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To the editor:
The original date for the idling of the Weirton tin mill was April 16, but that has been changed to April 20. This is the result of the International Trade Commission's ruling of Feb. 6. This action caused the owner of Cleveland-Cliffs to suspend operations and idle the plant on Feb. 16.
Both the local news outlets and papers carried Sen. Joe Manchin's, D-W.Va., visit to Weirton, on April 4, where he first visited the Form Energy facility, which is under construction. Afterward, he stopped at the USW Local 2911, where he spoke with a representative of Cleveland-Cliffs, union workers and local politicians. It was reported that Manchin said "I'm gonna get you an answer, I'm gonna find out. I'll go speak to the president next week." In the paper he is reported as saying he is going to speak to President Joe Biden and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo "next week" on the possibility of overturning the ITC ruling.
He knew the ruling by the ITC since Feb. 6, now he is going to speak with Biden and Raimondo just days before the idling? As for the commerce secretary, the Department of Commerce stated there was illegal dumping. He should have been speaking with the four ITC members who vetoed unanimously that there was no harm done. There is no excuse for this -- either he has no idea what he is doing, or is a liar.
The paper reported that former Presidents Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan overturned an ITC ruling. The USW members present knew that President George W. Bush did a Section 201 (a presidential order overturning a ruling.)
But it was too late, the damage was done. They never mention him, why? It is because the greatest destroyer of the U.S. steel industry was President Bill Clinton, who was backed by the union.
What was done by our local politicians? They had people write letters or send an e-mail to the White House, They sent a letter with politicians signing their names pleading to save these jobs and they showed up at the rallies. They all could have gone to Washington and fought for their constituents, making a stand for this injustice. But no, they sit back and cry about the revenue they are going to lose -- forget about the 900-plus workers and their families who are going to lose their livelihoods.
By April 21, it's likely the tin mill will be a faded memory for these elected representatives of the people.
Merica Petrella
Steubenville