Pennsylvania divided over proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese company | Wilnesh News

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — It’s one of the few things the vice president does Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump Agree: Oppose to sale United States Steel Corporation to Japanese company Nippon Steel.

But the proposed deal is damaging party loyalties in parts of western Pennsylvania, with some steelworkers feeling they are being used as a political talking point.

“I’m angry,” said Chris Kelly, the mayor of West Mifflin, a town near Pittsburgh. “I believe everyone was used as a pawn.”

Kelly, a Democrat, said he was initially skeptical of Japan’s takeover of U.S. Steel, which has plants in West Mifflin and surrounding Mon Valley communities. The company has been producing steel here since its founding in 1901.

In an interview in his garage, which doubles as the mayor’s office, Kelly said Japan won him over by promising billions of dollars in investment.

“I have understood the content of the agreement,” he said, adding that it would protect jobs and pensions. “I wish (national politicians) were here today to talk to the actual union workers in the plants and what the impact would be on them if they blocked this deal. It’s so important.”

Kelly is campaigning against his own party. two people familiar with the matter Confirmed to NBC News President Joe Biden is preparing to announce that he will formally block the sale. this The news was first reported Reported by The Washington Post.

A White House official said CFIUS has not yet issued a recommendation to Biden, which is the next step in the process.

Biden opposed the sale during a visit to Pittsburgh in April. During a visit to the Steel City earlier this week, Harris said she also opposed the approach.

“I couldn’t agree more with President Biden,” she said. “U.S. Steel should continue to be American owned and operated, and I will always support American steelworkers.”

Trump also opposes the deal.

But U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt warned that without Japan Steel’s investment, he would have to pull resources from western Pennsylvania, which could cost the region thousands of jobs.

“We’ve been worried about our jobs,” said union member Troy Stephenson, who has worked at U.S. Steel for 27 years.

“Right now, from what we know, we think Japan is the better deal,” he said.

Still, union leadership believes the deal will benefit shareholders, not workers. United Steelworkers President David McCaul said in an interview with NBC News that he did not believe U.S. Steel’s threats to pull out of Pennsylvania.

“I think this is the most baseless and irresponsible threat and statement that any chief executive could make,” he said. “I’m not comfortable with opposing this deal other than that it doesn’t satisfy our members. or the needs of retirees, and certainly not the needs of national defense.”

McCall said the union opposed the detail primarily because it did not meet collective bargaining agreement standards and because his members believed Japan might move some of its assets from the region to Arkansas.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., strongly opposed the sale.

“I’m screaming at the top brass at U.S. Steel,” he said written statement Thursday. “As I have always said, I will follow and stand with the United Steelworkers against unscrupulous executives seeking golden parachutes.”

The sale and the possibility it could be canceled are deeply dividing the region, pitting members of the same party and even the same union against each other in key battleground states.

West Mifflin Mayor Kelly said he was confused by both Harris and Trump.

“How is it possible that this is the only thing they’ve agreed on throughout the entire political campaign?” Kelly said. “Come where it affects the people. Don’t make this decision in Washington, D.C.”