Weirton Council standing up for local tin workers
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WEIRTON -- Wearing T-shirts showing support for members of United Steelworkers Local 2911, and encouraging federal officials to "Keep American Jobs Here," Weirton Council met in regular session Monday, announcing a letter had been composed in the hope of reversing a recent decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission which has been pointed to as the reasoning for the planned idling of the tinplate operation in the city.
In the early stages of Monday's meeting, Ward 1 Councilmember Tim Connell stood, announcing the composition of the letter in support of the employees of the Cleveland Cliffs Weirton tin operation, to be sent to President Joe Biden, the ITC and other state and federal officials
"The letter will be signed by every councilmember and person in this administration who wants to sign it," Connell said.
He said requests for copies of the letter had been received from the county commissions of both Hancock and Brooke counties, and it would be available to other area municipalities interested in using it or using it as a pattern for their own letters.
"They want copies so they can sign," he said.
Hancock County Commissioner Paul Cowey, who was attending as an observer to Monday's meeting, said there are plans for a similar letter to be on the commission's agenda for this Thursday.
"We're going to be putting out a letter also," Cowey said.
In a ruling, Jan. 5, the U.S. Department of Commerce determined imported products from four of the original eight petitioned countries were being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. That decision was overruled, though, by a 4-0 vote by the ITC on Feb. 6, saying the domestic tin industry was "not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports" from Canada, China and Germany. An investigation concerning imports from South Korea was terminated by the ITC.
Cleveland-Cliffs, on the morning of Feb. 15, announced its plans to idle the Weirton facility in April, pointing directly to the ITC decision.
"We, as a city, have been wrapping our minds around it," City Manager Mike Adams said.
Adams clarified that an idling does not mean the mill will be dismantled, but operations will be shut down. He said, though, there is the possibility of the ITC decision being reversed, but it can only be done by action of the president.
Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone suggested having the letter posted on the city's website and social media, providing a possible avenue for residents to tell their stories, and the stories of the community, with their connections to the mill.
Adams agreed, saying there are plans to work with the USW to place the emphasis on the humanity and the people affected by the decisions by the federal government.
"We have to put a face to this," Adams said.