Contact: Tony Montana
412-562-2592
tmontana@usw.org
PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union will host a food and relief drive from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 21 and Sat., Feb. 22 for members of Local 5724 who are laid off at Ormet’s aluminum smelter in Hannibal, Ohio.
In addition to distributing groceries, the USW has arranged presentations about a variety of benefits and services available to workers and their families who have been impacted since the smelter was idled.
Topics will include options for health insurance through Get Covered America, tax services offered to low income households through United Way-affiliated GMN Tri-County, as well as private and anonymous mental health services.
USW staff will also be on hand to help workers find information and answer questions about pensions and health insurance.
This is skilled labor. Working in these environments are not simple jobs. How is it that a manufacturing plant like this simply closes it's doors? It doesn't make sense. The administration and country need to be worried when this occurs.
The melting point of Aluminum is 660.32°C, 933.47 Kelvin or 1220.58 °F. That is one dangerous job. The environment is extremely hot. The factory that can achieve that process is not a minor asset and neither are their employees.
The United States needs these industries. I hesitate to mention the words national security, except, it is true. The USA was able to tool up for war under President Roosevelt because there were industries just like this within it's borders. I think the country needs to pay attention and realize the unfair competition the USA industries receive are more costly than the jobs they provide.
