Latest news with #UnitedSteelWorkers
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
‘Another snake-oil salesman's pitch': US workers wary of Trump's steel deal
Donald Trump, once 'totally against' Nippon Steel of Japan's controversial $14bn takeover bid for US Steel, the second largest US steel producer, is now hailing the deal as a turning point for the struggling industry. 'We won't be able to call this section a rust belt any more,' the US president declared at a plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, on Friday. 'It'll be a golden belt.' Workers are not holding their breath as they await details. 'Our members know from decades of negotiating contracts: trust nothing until you see it in writing,' David McCall, president of United Steel Workers, said in a statement last week. And veterans of the sector, which has withered for decades, are dubious. 'This is another snake-oil salesman's pitch to make him look good and reward the billionaires and millionaire executives and stakeholders for US Steel,' said Doug May, who worked for 43 years as a steel worker at a mill in Granite City, Illinois, from the age of 19. 'He's a proven flip-flopper. Just look at his trade cases: on again, off again.' Trump ditched his opposition to the deal – which Joe Biden blocked in January, citing national security concerns – last week, claiming it would create tens of thousands of jobs. At Friday's Pennsylvania rally, the president also announced he was doubling US tariffs on foreign steel to 50%. 'This will be yet another BIG jolt of great news for our wonderful steel and aluminum workers,' he later claimed on social media. As Nippon looks to swoop on US Steel, however, staff are still waiting on clarity. 'Are we still going to be employed when this whole thing goes through, and are there going to be improvements to our plant?' Mikayla Prescott, a worker at the Irvin site where Trump spoke on Friday, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 'If it's not benefiting the workers,' she added, 'then what's the point?' Following his retirement in 2016, May has followed international trade deals involving steel and watched the negative impacts of foreign steel imports on the US industry. May said the president 'recognized [the] disenchantment and anger' over the decline of the US steel industry but expressed distrust and disapproval of Trump's rhetoric and promises in supporting the deal. While the deal is said to include a 'golden share' that will be issued to the federal government, details have not been disclosed. US Steel has characterized the deal as an acquisition. United Steel Workers, which did not participate in the discussions around the acquisition of US Steel, has noted Nippon Steel has been found to have violated US trade laws in 13 different cases. The union's most recent contract with US Steel, signed in 2022 and set to expire at the end of 2026, represents 11,000 workers at the company. US Steel bought the Granite City plant, where May used to work, out of bankruptcy in 2003. The plant was temporarily idled for months in 2009 due to the recession, the first time in the plant's over 100-year history, and following another idling of the plant in December 2015, US Steel announced in March 2018 it was reopening the plant, citing Trump's 25% tariffs on steel imports. 'We are once again pouring American steel into the spine of our country,' the president, then in his first term, declared at a rally at Granite City. 'You are the ones who are making America great again.' May disputed Trump, or his tariffs, as the reason for the reopening, which he suggested was a result of the cyclical nature of the industry. In 2016, the US Steel chief executive had said the plant was idled due to market conditions and that it would be brought back when conditions improve. 'Granite City was going to start back up anyway,' said May. 'They don't just flip a switch just because Trump came to town.' Despite Trump's promises in 2018 to bring back 'hope and prosperity' to Granite City, problems continued. The plant's blast furnace was idled partially in 2019, then its second was idled in late 2023, which US Steel blamed on the autoworkers' strike at the big three automakers. United Steel Workers argued the decision was a targeted attack on unionized workers. 'If Trump really had steel workers' backs, he wouldn't be making anti-union appointments to the National Labor Relations Board,' May added. 'He wouldn't be decimating Osha [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration]. He wouldn't be doing everything he's done: a long list of things that prove that he's not supportive of unions.' May said: 'The 'partnership' that those at the rally are celebrating, despite scant details of investments being shared, could become your very nemesis in a short period of time. Solidarity with USW leadership and members across the country is critical going forward. Once the shit hits the fan, commitments are unfulfilled, non-union electric arc furnace actions will be used as a contract bargaining weapon and the rally is a forgotten memory.' There is a 'vast difference between public relations and putting commitments in writing', McCall, the USW president, said in a statement last week. 'Issuing press releases and making political speeches is easy. Binding commitments are hard,' he said. 'The devil is always in the details, and that is especially true with a bad actor like Nippon Steel that has again and again violated our trade laws, devastating steel communities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.' US Steel did not respond to multiple requests for comment on criticisms from United Steel Workers on the deal.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Quebec premier calls new Trump tariff threats on steel and aluminum 'completely unjustified'
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat on Canadian steel and aluminum producers "completely unjustified." He made the remark in a post on X, after Trump announced his intention to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent next Wednesday. "If he goes ahead with this tariff increase, it will harm our economy, as well as the American economy," Legault wrote in French. Legault added the situation was being closely monitored as they await to see the details of the executive order. In the meantime, "assistance programs continue to be available to businesses in need," he said. Both the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) and United Steel Workers Canada condemned the increase in U.S steel tariffs. "We're already in a dire situation with the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on us in March, so an additional 25 per cent will be catastrophic for our industry," François Desmarais, the CSPA's vice-president of trade and industry affairs, told CBC in an interview. Meg Gingrich, assistant to the national director for the United Steel Workers, agreed, saying the move could deliver a "potentially devastating blow" to the industry. Gingrich and Desmarais pointed to hundreds of layoffs across the country as a result of the current tariffs and Desmarais noted a "massive drop" in steel shipments to the United States. Desmarais said in April there were 30 per cent less shipments compared to the same time last year. "You have to keep in mind that over 50 per cent of Canadian steel production is sold in the United States," he said, adding he worries Canadian producers will be shut out of the market if Trump makes good on the proposed increase. Both organizations are calling on the federal government to take strong action and reinstate counter tariffs immediately, but some are hoping for a more measured response. WATCH | International trade lawyer weighs in on Trump's threat: Response needs to be targeted "We understand that we need to have a political answer to the situation," said Julie White, CEO of the Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec — a business association whose mission is to promote the growth of the Quebec manufacturing sector. She said, however, that any response needs to be targeted and take into account how it will impact different sectors. White explained that producers of steel and aluminum are in a different situation than the manufacturers who transform those products. "If it's inputs on the production that are affected by counter tariffs it's going to up the prices of production a lot and there's going to be an impact on businesses in their costs," she said. "Are they going to be able to keep producing? Are they going to be able to keep all their workers in place?" White says the uncertainty from the threat of tariffs has hurt manufacturers and exporters in Quebec more than the tariffs themselves, with those taxes leading to lost contracts and investments being delayed. "At the beginning a lot of people were afraid of the situation, but we've seen that even if Donald Trump has said a lot of things, not all of them happen," she said, adding it's important to take a step back, think longer term and try to find new opportunities. As an example, White said, the federal government is set to increase its defence spending, so "how are some manufacturers going to shift their production to make sure they respond to those new contracts?" Counter tariffs not the only solution Both Desmarais and Gingrich agree that counter tariffs are only part of the solution. Addressing issues surrounding the sectors' competitiveness and ensuring the integrity of the market in Canada are paramount. That, according to Gingrich, would require stemming the flow of unfairly traded steel and aluminum into our borders and could perhaps be achieved with a surtax on countries that don't play by the same rules. She explained how some steel producers affected by American tariffs are looking for new markets to unload their production. There's a risk of the Canadian market being flooded and undercut by products that are made for cheap abroad through practices such as overproduction, poor labour and environmental standards as well as currency manipulation, Gingrich said. Desmarais added another solution to boost the sector would be for governments to require domestic products be used for infrastructure projects. WATCH | Head of CPSA urges Ottawa to retaliate:
CBC
3 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Quebec premier calls new Trump tariff threats on steel and aluminum 'completely unjustified'
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat on Canadian steel and aluminum producers "completely unjustified." He made the remark in a post on X, after Trump announced his intention to double the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent next Wednesday. "If he goes ahead with this tariff increase, it will harm our economy, as well as the American economy," Legault wrote in French. Legault added the situation was being closely monitored as they await to see the details of the executive order. In the meantime, "assistance programs continue to be available to businesses in need," he said. Both the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) and United Steel Workers Canada condemned the increase in U.S steel tariffs. "We're already in a dire situation with the 25 per cent tariffs imposed on us in March, so an additional 25 per cent will be catastrophic for our industry," François Desmarais, the CSPA's vice-president of trade and industry affairs, told CBC in an interview. Meg Gingrich, assistant to the national director for the United Steel Workers, agreed, saying the move could deliver a "potentially devastating blow" to the industry. Gingrich and Desmarais pointed to hundreds of layoffs across the country as a result of the current tariffs and Desmarais noted a "massive drop" in steel shipments to the United States. Desmarais said in April there were 30 per cent less shipments compared to the same time last year. "You have to keep in mind that over 50 per cent of Canadian steel production is sold in the United States," he said, adding he worries Canadian producers will be shut out of the market if Trump makes good on the proposed increase. Both organizations are calling on the federal government to take strong action and reinstate counter tariffs immediately, but some are hoping for a more measured response. WATCH | International trade lawyer weighs in on Trump's threat: Trump says he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum 2 days ago Duration 1:29:02 U.S. President Donald Trump said he will double tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50 per cent next Wednesday. Hanomansing Tonight spoke with an international trade lawyer about the announcement. Response needs to be targeted "We understand that we need to have a political answer to the situation," said Julie White, CEO of the Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec — a business association whose mission is to promote the growth of the Quebec manufacturing sector. She said, however, that any response needs to be targeted and take into account how it will impact different sectors. White explained that producers of steel and aluminum are in a different situation than the manufacturers who transform those products. "If it's inputs on the production that are affected by counter tariffs it's going to up the prices of production a lot and there's going to be an impact on businesses in their costs," she said. "Are they going to be able to keep producing? Are they going to be able to keep all their workers in place?" White says the uncertainty from the threat of tariffs has hurt manufacturers and exporters in Quebec more than the tariffs themselves, with those taxes leading to lost contracts and investments being delayed. "At the beginning a lot of people were afraid of the situation, but we've seen that even if Donald Trump has said a lot of things, not all of them happen," she said, adding it's important to take a step back, think longer term and try to find new opportunities. As an example, White said, the federal government is set to increase its defence spending, so "how are some manufacturers going to shift their production to make sure they respond to those new contracts?" Counter tariffs not the only solution Both Desmarais and Gingrich agree that counter tariffs are only part of the solution. Addressing issues surrounding the sectors' competitiveness and ensuring the integrity of the market in Canada are paramount. That, according to Gingrich, would require stemming the flow of unfairly traded steel and aluminum into our borders and could perhaps be achieved with a surtax on countries that don't play by the same rules. She explained how some steel producers affected by American tariffs are looking for new markets to unload their production. There's a risk of the Canadian market being flooded and undercut by products that are made for cheap abroad through practices such as overproduction, poor labour and environmental standards as well as currency manipulation, Gingrich said. Desmarais added another solution to boost the sector would be for governments to require domestic products be used for infrastructure projects.
CNN
23-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
President Trump says Nippon Steel and US Steel to enter into partnership
President Donald Trump announced a partnership between U.S. Steel and Japanese steelmaker Nippon that he says will keep the headquarters in Pittsburgh and draw $14 billion in investment toward the US economy. 'This will be a planned partnership between United States Steel and Nippon Steel, which will create at least 70,000 jobs, and add $14 Billion Dollars to the U.S. Economy. The bulk of that Investment will occur in the next 14 months,' Trump posted on TruthSocial Friday. Trump will visit the steel plant next Friday for a 'BIG rally,' he said. Former president Joe Biden blocked the $14.3 billion acquisition during his last week in office. The deal has been controversial since it was first announced in December 2023, with both sides of the political aisle opposing foreign control of a once-key component of US industrial might that has fallen on hard times. US Steel was once a symbol of American industrial might, when it was the most valuable company in the world and the first to be worth $1 billion, soon after its creation in 1901. It was also crucial to the US economy and the cars, appliances, bridges and skyscrapers that tangibly indicated that strength. But it has suffered through decades of decline since its post-World War II height. It is no longer even the largest US steelmaker, and a relatively minor employer, with 14,000 US employees — 11,000 of whom are members of the United Steel Workers union. But it is still not a company that politicians who enjoy talking about American greatness have wanted to see fall into foreign hands — particularly in the politically significant state of Pennsylvania. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NE Ohio community welcomes imported steel tariffs after losing manufacturing jobs
CANTON, Ohio (WJW) – The Republic Steel plant at one time had as many as 2,500 employees. When it was officially closed down in 2023, there were about 500. Mexico-based Grupo Simec, which bought Republic Steel in 2005, moved the jobs to a new 'state of the art' plant in Mexico, closing plants in Massillon and Lorain as well. The company cited competitive market pricing, the rising cost of raw materials and labor costs as contributing factors. Investigation underway after 40-car fire in Lorain At the time, union representatives were furious and wanted the United States government to do something to stop the country from importing steel. 'The government needs to step in and say 'hey, enough is enough. You are not going to do that, you are not bringing… steel made in Mexico to the United States,'' said Todd Fitzgibbon, the president of United Steel Workers local 1200 at the time. Linda Vincent has lived across from the plant for 18 years and remembers the bustle there in better times. 'People lost their jobs and some of them don't know how to pay their bills and they have got to start all over again with another job and a new location if they have to move. So yeah, it's been really hard on a lot of these people,' Vincent told FOX 8 on Monday. In February, President Trump signed an executive order restoring a 25% tariff on all imported steel and aluminum coming into the United States, regardless of its origin. 'Our nation requires steel and aluminum to be made in America, not in foreign lands. We need to create, in order to protect our country's future, the resurgence of American manufacturing and production. The likes of which has not been seen for many decades,' said Trump when signing the order. Trump said he signed similar tariffs during his first term in the White House, but in the past four years, there have been exceptions worked into the order which have cost the United States tens of thousands of jobs. 'We have lost 107,000 jobs and remember these aren't just general jobs. These are steelworkers in America and now you are going to bring them back,' said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Cleveland church replaces tornado-damaged roof, holds first Sunday service Even if Republic Steel were to bring jobs back to the United States that were transplanted to Mexico, there is no guarantee that its plants or any part of them in Ohio would be reopen. Burt Brown, who has owned the Brick City Lounge across the street from the Canton plant for the past 22 years, says during that time, he has made friends with many of the steelworkers who have visited his business. He is in favor of doing whatever can be done to bring jobs back or preserve the jobs that are still here, but he would like for them to be good paying jobs. 'Is it going to be a whole new crew? he asked on Monday. 'Are they going to start them off at $3 an hour or is it going to be a decent wage like it was when the guys got thrown out of there?' The steel and aluminum tariffs are expected to be in effect beginning on Wednesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
