Ohio Steelworkers Talk Trade With Congressmembers

May 2, 2017  
By Steven Wishnia and Neal Tepel

Warren, OH – Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Tim Ryan met with United Steelworkers leaders in Northeast Ohio Apr. 24 to discuss how to combat unfair trade practices effectively.

Mark Murray, who works at Thomas Steel Strip in Warren, said the Steelworkers have filed “numerous” complaints with the U.S. Industrial Trade Commission, but the process takes “way too long.” By the time the commission reaches a verdict, he said, it’s hard to say, “let’s go back and hire the 200 or 300 people who have lost their jobs.” Brown said that he and Ryan have seen unfair-trade cases filed by steel companies in the area “where it’s clear China is cheating,” but it takes 18 months to prove that a company to prove that it’s been damaged, and some go out of business first. “That’s exactly what we’re trying to speed up,” he said. Bad trade deals have “hurt the American worker for far too long” said Rich Sayers of Local 1375, who works for ArcelorMittal. The local had 1,500 members before the WCI Steel plant south of Warren closed, he added. “We’re down to around 200 now.” Read more