Many hope AK Steel closing can be averted
While the CEO of Cleveland-Cliffs, the company set to buy AK Steel next Friday, has "promised" to close the Butler plant if a loophole in the Trump steel tariff is not closed, many are hopeful that the devastating action can be avoided.
Leslie Osche, chair of the Butler County commissioners, said she and others are working with U.S. congressmen and senators to have the loophole fixed so that AK Steel's Butler plant will stop losing money.
Jim Panei, president of the union representing hundreds of workers at the Butler plant, is also hopeful that things will turn around so that the plant remains open.
"I've got confidence it's all going to work out," Panei said.
Workers coming out of the plant after the daylight shift Friday had varying opinions on the situation, but all lamented the potential loss of their livelihoods.
The Butler plant has 1,400 active employees, 1,500 retiree families and 540 widows.
This is an excerpt from a story that appeared in Sunday's Butler Eagle.
