STEEL Group takes aim at imports

WHEATLAND, Pa. -- The newly formed CSI (Committee to Stop Imports) will meet at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the United Steelworkers of America Local 1016 Union Hall, 100 Broadway Ave.
Committee members will summarize their Feb. 7-8 lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., where they asked legislators from Pennsylvania, Ohio and other steel-producing states to take action to stop the surge of imports from China.
CSI members noted that escalating Chinese imports caused the layoff of 89 union and management employees from Wheatland Tube's Sharon plant.
In addition, 58 workers from the Sharon plant were furloughed in November and December.
Other jobs have been cut at Wheatland Tube's facilities in Wheatland and Warren, Ohio.
In addition, Sharon Tube, with plants in Sharon, Wheatland and Warren, has cut employee hours and furloughed some workers, CSI said.
Drawing attention
CSI members also will discuss ways to expand their efforts to draw attention to the impact of China imports, including the possibility of drawing labor, management, political and community members from Crawford and Erie and other nearby counties.
The committee includes labor members from USWA locals 1016 (Wheatland Tube plants in Sharon and Warren); 1660 (Wheatland Tube's Wheatland plant; 1355 (Sharon Tube's plants in Sharon, Wheatland and Warren); 3713 (Werner and Salem Tube plants in the Greenville area); and the Women of Steel group.
The committee also includes management from Wheatland Tube and Sharon Tube.