(The Center Square) – In May, Cleveland-Cliffs announced the idling of its plant in Steelton, a town on the Susquehanna River just south of the state capital.
Monday, on the first day of the closure, Dauphin County legislators convened with workers from to show support for the plant’s role in the community.
“Today is the first day of the ‘idle’, but it is not the last day of our fight,” said Sen. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg. “For the last month, since the day Cleveland-Cliffs’ made their surprise announcement, we have been at work engaging federal, state, county and local officials to come together and meet the moment.
Rep. Dave Madsen, D-Steelton, echoed Kim’s sentiment about the support she’d seen for steel workers at every level of government.
“Cleveland-Cliffs needs to do the same, come to the table as a willing partner and find a path forward,” said Madsen.
The idling impacts 551 workers including 491 union members and 60 salaried employees.
“Events like this are an unfortunate reminder of our need to maintain a strong safety net by funding programs that provide food, maintain housing, ensure medical care, and assist with other essentials during hard times,” said Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Harrisburg.
To that end, the General Assembly members are offering services to support those who have lost their jobs for the time being. They say they’ll continue to support United Steel Workers Local 1688 in finding ways to cut costs and improve efficiency so that the plant can reopen.
“We stand united in exhausting every avenue and resource available to secure a future for the steel mill and its employees,” said Kim.
In the meantime, they say they’re waiting for Cleveland-Cliffs to do the same.
