Steelworkers occupy mill office

By Bruce Bostick & Denise W. Edwards

This article was reprinted from the April 11, 1998 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

Union steelworkers, fighting to save their jobs, occupied the offices of Republic Engineered Steel, Inc. (RESI) in Massillon, Ohio April 6. The steelworkers are demanding that the company, a spinoff of LTV, pledge to build its new "Millenium Mill" in the area rather than elsewhere, as the company has threatened. The mill produces steel for the auto and appliance industry.

Twelve of the workers who joined the sit-in were arrested and arraigned just after midnight April 7 on charges of trespassing, reported Mary Shullenberger, a secretary at United Steelworkers of America (USWA) Local 1200, in a telephone interview.

Shullenberger told the World she was the only person available to answer the phone because all the local's elected officers, including the local's president, Harry Schaefer, are sitting in at RESI corporate offices or are in jail. Frank Vickers, director of USWA District 1, joined those in jail whenpolice arrested him April 8.

Local 1200 is one of four USWA locals that represent the 1,600 workers at the RESI production complex in Massillon and neighboring Canton, about 20 miles south of Akron.

The struggle began when steelworkers and auto workers staged a "Solidarity Day" rally April 6, demanding that RESI build its new mill in Stark County.

"By 3:30 the parking lot was packed," Shullenberger said. "Then, about 100 guys just up and decided to go inside and stay there until (RESI Chief Executive Officer) Russ Meyer signs."

By Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours later, the word had gone out and workers from Ohio and Pennsylvania started pouring in.

"We even have people here from the (USWA) International and (USWA) District Director (Frank) Vickers is here," she continued amid ringing phones in the background. "People are coming from everywhere. The families here can't take another lay-off or plant closing. They call it downsizing but it is poverty for workers and all our families."

She said RESI plans to close one of its mills in the Massillon-Canton complex destroying 700 jobs. The new Millenium Mill will employ an estimated 300 workers, meaning a net loss of 400 jobs even if RESI builds its new mill in Massillon.

RESI is covered by a so-called Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) which was promoted to the workers as a way to insure job security. "ESOP was supposed to guarantee our jobs," Shullenberger said "Think about all our families. It's criminal what they have done. But we've got and we are getting our unity!"

She quickly added that this is not a strike, but a sit-in. Steelworkers are being encouraged to go to work, but come to the company headquarters to show "solidarity" after work.

Steel production and profits are at record-setting levels. But companies in this region are still downsizing, running away in search of non-union labor, leaving shattered families, bombed out towns and rotting mills.

RESI steelworkers said enough is enough. Over 100 decided to sit in the company's headquarters until RESI Chief Executive officer, Russ Meyer, signs on the dotted line to build the new Millenium mill in the Canton-Massillon area. As we go to press, steelworkers are still inside and workers have ringed the building, securing the area.

Members of USWA local union 1200, their families and communities have literally been through the mill. Workers have gone from working for Republic Steel through the LTV buyout, the 1986 bankruptcy and strike to restore medical benefits, through massive concessions in 1989 to the ESOP and creation of RESI.

On paper, steelworkers "own" - but do not control - 51 percent of the stock. Despite the fact that workers are paper "owners," the company has refused any information about the new Millenium mill. They offered up only threats of building in Tennessee or Michigan and stonewalled about investors. Under ESOP-style company organization, steelworkers are left looking down the barrel of the lay- off, plant-closing cannon.

LTV Steel is already building its Trico mill in Decatur, Ala. using non-union construction workers and plans to operate the mill with non-union steelworkers. It could turn the Cleveland Flats into a ghost town.

Steelworkers have been battling to save decent jobs that can support a family and to enforce their contract. The industry, meanwhile, is boasting in the press of skyrocketing profits and banner years.

The union scored a limited victory in Pittsburgh when an eight-month struggle forced LTV at least to commit verbally to new construction in this Rust Bowl city. Members of USWA Local 1200 just upped the ante.