Garamendi Leads Members of California Congressional Delegation Calling on U.S. Steel to Keep Pittsburg Mill Open
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA08), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA10), Barbara Lee (D-CA12), and Katie Porter (D-CA47) called on the United States Steel (USS) Corporation Chief Executive Officer to continue operation of the USS-Posco Industries (UPI) steel mill in Pittsburg, California. Specifically, the members are calling on United States Steel to find a buyer that will keep the Pittsburg mill in operation and keep all workers on the job.
Since 1910, the UPI steel mill has produced high-quality steel products under the ownership and operation of the U.S. Steel Corporation. In 1986, U.S. Steel entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO). In 2020, U.S. Steel acquired POSCO's shares of the UPI steel mill and regained sole ownership of the facility. In 2022, U.S. Steel informed employees at the Pittsburg facility that it would shut down in December 2023.
The UPI steel mill in Pittsburg has been in operation for over 100 years and is the city’s third largest employer with nearly 700 skilled workers. Additionally, the Pittsburg mill makes steel for the U.S. market, including steel needed for publicly-funded transportation improvements under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-58). The members are also calling on U.S. Steel to keep two support facilities for the Pittsburg mill in operation and workers on the job: CEMCO, which produces steel framing, and Roll Technology West (RTW), which produces chrome plates for UPI products.
“The continued operation of UPI is essential in keeping hundreds of good-paying union jobs in Pittsburg and would ensure that we are meeting our Buy America goals,” said Garamendi.
Electronic Copy of Letter: Click Here
Full Text of Letter:
Dear Mr. Burritt:
Since our previous letter regarding the continued operation of the USS-Posco Industries (UPI) steel mill in Pittsburg, California, we believe there are potentially interested parties willing to purchase and keep the steel mill in production. We believe it would be beneficial to the local economy if US Steel were to pursue all viable acquisition opportunities that will allow the UPI steel mill to remain in production. We believe the UPI steel mill’s continued operation is also essential to ensure a sufficient supply of U.S.-made steel as required under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L.117-58). Our offices stand ready to assist with an acquisition resulting in the continued operation of the UPI steel mill however we can within our authority.
Pittsburg has been home to the UPI steel mill for more than 100 years. As the third largest employer in the city after the local school district and the community college, the steel mill employs nearly 700 hourly and salaried employees. In addition to UPI, two other production facilities at the Pittsburg site will also benefit from an acquisition: CEMCO, which produces steel framing, and Roll Technology West (RTW), which produces chrome plates for UPI products. We are concerned that a failure to keep these facilities in production in Pittsburg would result in hundreds of additional workers losing their jobs.
We believe the acquisition of the UPI steel mill would be of great benefit to the city and region, as well as the hundreds of union workers and their families who rely on these jobs. It would also benefit numerous interdependent industries across California and the entire supply chain for domestic tin and other steel products, which are used throughout the state for food packaging and other critical products.
Again, we believe any acquisition that would ensure the UPI steel mill’s continued operation would be a great benefit to our districts. We appreciate your attention to this crucial matter. Thank you for your consideration.
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