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September 29, 2003 WEIRTON, W.VA. – Weirton Steel Corp. and the Independent Steelworkers Union (ISU) today announced they are mailing a videotaped message to President Bush and other government officials urging the continuation of the steel import tariff program for an additional 18 months. The six-minute video offers a brief history of the 94-year-old steelmaker, including its recent struggles with unprecedented surges of steel imports. It also provides messages from employees, local government leaders, steel and union officials, area business owners and Weirton residents asking the president to continue the tariffs. "We have been fighting unfair steel imports for more than six years. We have rallied, marched, made phone calls, written letters, testified and held meetings. The video is the latest tool in our campaign to convince the Bush administration to continue standing up for steel. Since we do not know when the president will make his decision, our campaign to continue the tariffs must persist. The fight must move forward," said ISU President Mark Glyptis. D. Leonard Wise, Weirton Steel chief executive officer, added, "We sincerely hope those in Washington who receive the video will take time to review it and realize the president’s decision is more than just politics or facts and figures. It’s about real people and their families." In addition to Bush, the video will be mailed to Vice President Dick Cheney, Bush’s 15 cabinet members, seven of his executive offices and certain members of Congress. Glyptis and Wise agreed the tariffs have helped Weirton Steel recover from unfairly priced imports that have been reduced or eliminated. The tariffs have increased the cost of shipping steel to the U.S., making it difficult for foreign steel companies to export their products to American markets. Last week, Bush received a U.S. International Trade Commission report that stated the first 18 months of his tariff program benefited the domestic steel industry and caused little harm to U.S. steel-consuming companies. By law, the president can decide whether or not to continue the tariffs for the remaining period. If Bush maintains the program until March 2005, he can keep the tariff percentages as originally established or modify them. Weirton Steel is the fifth largest U.S. integrated steelmaker. The ISU represents 3,000 of the company’s 3,500 employees.
Weirton Steel Corp. Media Contact:
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