RG Steel workers still await word on Warren mill

WARREN — Some of the 1,000 laid-off union employees of RG Steel gathered at the union hall here today hoping to learn the mill’s fate.

Members said a variety of scenarios have been discussed — good and bad for the workers. Union leadership had no comment and had not met formally with the workers as of 11:30 a.m.

One worker, a longtime maintenance technician, said the rumor that a scrapping company had bought the mill to tear it down seemed plausible because management had starting scrapping parts of the mill months ago.

Some of the parts that have been scrapped “can’t be replaced,” the worker said.

The worker said the sale to a scrapper would most likely mean the end of the mill and its 1,200 jobs despite the mill being profitable. The mill at Sparrows Point, Md., was dragging RG Steel down with continual losses, the worker said.

“If it’s true, it will be a brownfield just like downtown Youngstown,” the worker said. “It’s a shame.”

The Baltimore Brew, a daily online journal, is reporting that C J Betters Enterprises Inc. of Monaca, Pa., was the high bidder for the Warren site at $18 million.

An employee at the company stated today she could not confirm the report.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com