International Vice President of the United Steelworkers, Dave McCall, returned to the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the evolution of the steel industry over the last 20 years in America. McCall also discussed the tin steel dumping issues and Cleveland-Cliffs attempting to purchase U.S. Steel.
The steel industry in America is operating at a higher level than anyone could have imagined at the turn of the century. In Cleveland, a mill that was once predicted to be closed in 1999 is now the world's most productive integrated steel mill in the world. Following allegations of imported steel from other countries cheating the fair markets, the United States began searching for ways to improve the American steel mills. The shift in the importance of American-made steel and manufacturing has shifted the need for more steel mills in America and more good union jobs being created.
The tin market in the United States is currently about 50 percent imported product. A complaint was filed jointly between the USW and Cleveland-Cliffs Mill that other countries were dumping tin plates into the market. By dumping material into the market, they are selling at levels below the industry standard, which is undercutting fair trade agreements. For the industry to return to normal, penalties must be levied against the countries responsible.
Cleveland-Cliffs has made a bid to acquire U.S. Steel, something the Steelworkers strongly support. Cliffs recently took over two large operations from previous owners, brought them up to standard and kept union workers in place. While U.S. Steel is currently saying no to the offer from Cleveland-Cliffs, McCall and the Steelworkers are backing Cliffs to successfully acquire U.S. Steel and return the work at those mills back to union members.
To learn more about the future of the American Steel Industry, press play above.