US Steel employees rallied in support of the company’s proposed sale to Japan-based Nippon Steel, following reports that President Joe Biden may block the deal on national security grounds. The rally outside the Clairton plant came one day after Bloomberg News reported the president’s plans to halt the sale.
Employees and union leaders alike pleaded with Biden to approve the deal, arguing it would preserve and grow integrated steel-making and union jobs across the US. Scott Buckiso, senior vice president and chief manufacturing officer, stated that the transaction with Nippon Steel is the last hope for U.S. Steel’s legacy and will ensure its continued existence.
However, the United Steelworkers union leadership opposes the sale. The union’s top leader, David McCall, has been critical of the deal, citing concerns over national security and job protection. Despite this, many employees believe the deal is essential to safeguarding their jobs and industry.
Mayor Richard Lattanzi of Clairton emphasized the need for a deal to revive the Mon Valley region, where U.S. Steel facilities are located. “This is very critical,” he said. “Time is running out, and this has to get done.” If no deal is reached, the mayor warned that the Mon Valley would be “dead”.
The rally featured hundreds of employees from U.S. Steel facilities across the US, who joined virtually to express their support for the sale. They shared a unified message: the deal must go through. As Andrew Macey, a steelworker, put it, “You can’t stop this deal.” The fate of U.S. Steel’s future and its employees hangs in the balance as the president’s decision looms over the next 10 days.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/u-s-steel-union-employees-rally-support-nippon-steel-deal