“I’m calling bullshit on the U.S. Steel executives, just like I did shortly after that first announcement,” said U.S. Sen. John Fetterman Wednesday regarding an announcement by the manufacturing giant.
As KDKA reported, the company announced a rally in support of its proposed sale to Nippon, a Japan-based steel company. In its Wednesday announcement, U.S. Steel said there would be “serious questions,” about whether U.S. Steel will remain headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., if the deal doesn’t go through.
When the purchase plans were first announced last year, they were met with backlash from the United Steelworkers union when it was announced. USW International President David McCall again addressed the issue in an Aug. 12 video posted to Facebook.
“When management comes around and says to you: ‘It’s a really good deal for us, and for them…’ it’s a good deal for them. It’s not a good deal for us. We’ll keep you posted,” he said.
U.S. politicians have also bristled at the proposal. Even Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and GOP candidate former President Donald Trump agree that they’re not in support of the deal. Wednesday reports indicate that President Joe Biden plans to block the $14.1 billion transaction.
Fetterman lives across the street from U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson plant in Braddock, Pa. He filmed a video across from the plant slamming the proposed deal. Last March, Fetterman sent a letter along with and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel expressing concern that the companies were failing to meet their commitments to Pennsylvania workers.
“As I’ve always said, I will follow and stand with the United Steelworkers against the shameless executives looking for a golden parachute,” said Fetterman.
This June, Fetterman joined Senators Casey and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to send a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and other officials, urging a block of the deal. They said “Nippon Steel’s well-documented record of dumping steel products in the U.S. presents a clear conflict with our ability to continue to defend the domestic steel industry.”