The proposed purchase of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel pits the United Steelworkers union against some in senior management who say the transaction by Nippon will save and prolong the viability of the iconic company that has promised to invest billions to upgrade facilities and processes. If the transaction goes through, everyone has to be ready for a cultural change. The Japanese culture is very different from American culture.
Nippon will have senior executives in key positions with the expectation that the company will be run using their business models, philosophies and protocols. That change will be somewhat of a challenge due to the language and culture barriers. There will be an adjustment for both American and Japanese workers; they will need to build a mutual trust to be successful.
Lastly, there’s the iconic brand and logo at stake that’s synonymous with U.S. Steel but also with America and the city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. It’s the same logo the Steelers have proudly worn since 1933. How’s that going to be integrated into the Nippon brand?
There’s a company in Jeannette that has gone through a similar purchase by a Japanese company. They’re members of the United Steelworkers union, and they both still have challenges today, some 20 years later.
Rick Parker
Jeannette