The United Steelworkers (USW) have expressed their concerns regarding the proposed partnership between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel. USW International President David McCall released a statement indicating that the union was not involved in discussions with U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, or the Trump administration about this potential merger.
McCall stated, “We have not participated in the discussions involving U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, and the Trump administration, nor were we consulted.” He further emphasized uncertainty surrounding what has been termed a “planned partnership” and a “golden share” purportedly intended for the federal government.
The primary focus of USW remains on how this merger might affect national security and its members’ welfare. The union has already communicated its objections to the Trump administration during the second CFIUS review process.
Highlighting concerns about Nippon’s trade practices, McCall pointed out that “Nippon has a long history of committing unfair trade practices.” The International Trade Commission found violations of U.S. trade laws by Nippon in multiple cases. Recently, duties exceeding 200 percent were imposed on Nippon by the Department of Commerce due to illegal steel dumping.
The USW emphasizes safeguarding economic and employment security at existing USS facilities. McCall noted that while public relations efforts are straightforward, securing written commitments is challenging: “There is a vast difference between public relations and putting commitments in writing.”
He warned against premature conclusions without written agreements: “Any final deal that may emerge from discussions… must be viewed through that lens.” Furthermore, he stressed skepticism towards verbal assurances: “Our members know from decades of negotiating contracts: Trust nothing until you see it in writing.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers across various industries including manufacturing and energy production.
