Steelworkers union, politicians pushing Buy America plan

By Don Shilling

Steelworkers want American companies to have a second chance at stimulus projects.

WARREN — Politicians and union leaders came to Warren to push for stronger Buy America provisions in the spending of federal stimulus money.

They had a news conference at the union hall for workers at Severstal Warren, where 850 hourly and 150 salaried workers are out of work.

Buy America programs are critical if the Warren steel mill and other manufacturers are going to be restarted, said Ed Machingo, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 1375 at the mill.

“It’s something that needs to happen,” he said.

In a slow economy, the local mill hasn’t produced steel since October. Some other parts of the mill had been operating, but the last phase of production, the galvanizing line, was being shut down Friday.

Machingo said workers adjusted well to the idling of the mill when the company said it probably would restart by June. Recently, however, management said it wasn’t sure when the economy would be strong enough to begin operations.

“It’s starting to take its toll,” Machingo said.

Steelworkers officials say stronger Buy America provisions will help places such as Severstal Warren.

“The only way we’re going to strengthen this economy is to put Americans back to work and to buy American products,” said Gary Steinbeck, a Steelworkers staff representative.

The union is pushing for the state to set up a Web site that would list projects that are granted waivers from the Buy America provisions in the federal stimulus bill. The bill allows foreign goods to be bought if American goods would cost at least 25 percent more.

If the waivers are posted publicly, American companies could review the list and bid on projects before they are awarded to foreign suppliers, said Donnie Blatt, another Steelworkers staff representative.

The Steelworkers are supporting a resolution introduced into the Ohio Senate that would call for the state to publish projects that receive waivers. One of those introducing the bill is state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd.

Both Schiavoni and Sen. Minority Leader Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, attended the press conference and expressed their support for Buy America.

Cafaro said hearings would begin next week on the resolution. The House also is taking up a similar issue, Blatt said.

The Steelworkers also pushing for local governments and counties to support Buy America by publishing projects that receive waivers.

Blatt said he hopes both local and state projects can be placed on a Web site operated by the state so companies can have easy access to waivers that are granted.

The Steelworkers said 11 local governments in the Mahoning Valley, plus the Trumbull and Mahoning county commissioners, have passed measures to support Buy America and the publishing of waivers.

Blatt said the union has approached 135 local governments across the state and has 35 resolutions so far.

Joe Regula, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO, said the stimulus spending provides the opportunity to put Americans back to work in good-paying jobs after years of decline in manufacturing. The nation needs to pay attention to its industrial base and support domestic companies, he said.

“Will working families, will the middle class, have a place in this economy anymore?” he asked.

shilling@vindy.com