Mill, union, college focus on training

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

With a revival of steelmaking in the Cleveland area and an aging mill work force, a steelmaker, the Steelworkers union and a community college are collaborating to train future workers.

At ArcelorMittal Cleveland, the average employee age is 57. And in Lorain, west of Cleveland, U.S. Steel is expanding and Republic Steel plans to build an electric arc furnace and hire 449.

“People with an electrical or mechanical skill set will soon be needed to replace retiring workers,” Steelworkers Local 979 president Mark Granakis said in announcing the training partnership Thursday.

The Steelworkers and ArcelorMittal will work with Lakeland Community College in Lake County northeast of Cleveland to offer a 21/2-year work-study program to prepare workers for the industry.

The college will have an open house for prospective students Nov. 30. Applicants must have a high-school diploma.

John Russo, who studies labor issues at Youngstown State University, said the program could help the industry update its work force. “It reflects a graying of the work force in manufacturing,” he said.