ISU VOWS TO FIGHT FOR HOT END AS WEIRTON SWITCHES TO TIN

摘要

PITTSBURGH - The Independent Steelworkers Union (ISU) will not give up its fight to save the hot end at Mittal Steel USA's plant in Weirton, West Virginia, even after a meeting in which the company's ceo told the union the company would thrive if it concentrated on tin. Louis Schorsch, ceo of Mittal Steel USA, met privately with ISU leaders and then had a session with about 1,500 union members in Weirton on December 13, explaining the rationale behind the company's recent decision not to restart the plant's idled No 1 blast furnace. The hot end was idled in the spring when high stocks in the US steel market caused prices to fall. It resulted in the layoff of about 800 ISU members. Their prospects of returning were reduced with Mittal's announcement earlier this month that it would not bring the hot end back into operation.