USW Statement on U.S. Steel-Nippon Partnership 

Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, jkamm@usw.org or Tony Montana, tmontana@usw.org 

The United Steelworkers (USW) today issued the following statement from International President David McCall: 

“We have not participated in the discussions involving U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, and the Trump administration, nor were we consulted, so we cannot speculate about the meaning of the ‘planned partnership’ between USS and Nippon or the ‘golden share’ that some politicians have claimed will be issued to the federal government.   

“Whatever the deal structure, our primary concern remains with the impact that this merger of U.S. Steel into a foreign competitor will have on national security, our members and the communities where we live and work.  

“When the second CFIUS review was announced, we communicated to the Trump administration our concerns and objections.  

“Nippon has a long history of committing unfair trade practices. Indeed, the International Trade Commission determined that the company violated U.S. trade laws in 13 different trade cases. Just last month, the Department of Commerce imposed duties of more than 200 percent on Nippon for the illegal dumping of steel. Yet, despite ongoing injury and continuing penalties, Nippon is being rewarded.   

“The USW’s only concern has been and continues to be the long-term viability and sustainability of the current USS facilities, so as to safeguard the current and future economic, employment and retirement security of our members and their communities.   

“There is a vast difference between public relations and putting commitments in writing, just as there is a vast difference between allowing shareholders and executives to cash-out and putting workers’ interests first.   

“Any final deal that may emerge from discussions between the merger parties and the federal government must be viewed through that lens, and not the lens of wishful thinking that has been adopted by far too many politicians and others. 

“Issuing press releases and making political speeches is easy. Binding commitments are hard. 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.   

“Our members know from decades of negotiating contracts: Trust nothing until you see it in writing.” 

The USW (www.usw.org) represents 850,000 workers employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of members in tech, public sector and service occupations. 

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