Hundreds of West Virginia workers received pay cuts and were thrown back into the labor market when West Virginia’s Weirton plant closed last week. The factory closures came after the federal government refused to impose tariffs on cheap imported tin.
“It’s a tough situation. We’re used to working locally and earning a decent wage. All [else] It’s a 40 percent pay cut around here.” Dan Strapazon, 41, Said of pittsburgh post gazette About finding a new job.
Mr. Strapazon, along with about 900 other workers at the Cleveland-Cliffs Co. tin factory in Weirton, was told they would be laid off in February.
Executives said the closure was because the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) allowed the Commerce Department to impose tariffs on cheap imported tin products that were unfairly subsidized by Canada, China, Germany and South Korea. It’s because he didn’t do it.
“…ITC has issued a shocking judgment. [the] “The imposition of tariffs maintains an uneven playing field and precludes continued production of tinplate,” Cleveland-Cliffs executives said in a statement regarding the plant closure.
Last week, many laid-off Cleveland-Cliffs workers headed to job fairs hoping to find nearby jobs with similar pay and benefits. Some workers say they may quit the volatile industry altogether.
“It’s provided a great life for me, my parents and my grandparents so far,” said Josh Martin, 28. post gazette. “But now it seems like every two years something closes.”
Many Weirton locals who rely on jobs in the supporting industry are hopeful that the tin factory will reopen under new management.
Mark Glyptis, President, United Steelworkers (USW) 2911 To tell He is in talks with Cleveland-Cliffs and transformer maker ERMCO about retooling the plant to make electrical components.
Gryptis said the “God-sent” idea would bring 800 to 1,000 jobs back to Weirton.
“This is a significant investment,” Glyptis said. “Converting this factory to make transformers is a very large investment, and there is a lot of high-tech electrical equipment that needs to be purchased and installed. It will take some time to do it with this equipment. It costs a lot, but it’s a very good business.”
John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart News. Please email jbinder@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter here.
