Despite the blistering cold conditions and national opposition, hundreds of Pittsburgh steelworkers gathered last Thursday to support a multimillion-dollar deal to save their plant, jobs and communities.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Gov. Josh Shapiro listened to these hardworking folks and showed genuine leadership on the U.S. Steel deal?
Nippon Steel’s offer to buy the Pennsylvania-based icon may be the last chance to save U.S. Steel from massively downsizing, killing jobs and closing plants across the state. Despite these troubling circumstances, our governor is nowhere to be found. Ironically, Shapiro, who typically jumps at every PR opportunity, has mostly dodged the issue.
Playing both sides
Where does Shapiro stand on U.S. Steel? On the one hand, he said he couldn’t support the deal because union executives — primarily those not based in Pennsylvania — don’t like it. On the other hand, he criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s opposition to the deal, saying it was out of step with local leaders who wanted the merger approved.
Governor Shapiro, which is it? Why won’t you tell Pennsylvania what you really think?
It’s obvious why Shapiro wants to have it both ways: He can claim victory no matter what happens. If the deal is blocked, he can say he stood with the out-of-state union executives, who have donated generously to the governor’s electoral efforts. If the deal somehow gets approved, he can say he stood with local workers whose jobs depend on it.
As someone who served in the state legislature, I’ve seen this move plenty of times. It’s called playing politics. But it’s not real leadership.
The workers’ side
A true leader would look at the merger and conclude it’s in the state’s best interests. The sad fact is the celebrated steelmaker isn’t globally competitive anymore. It needs a massive infusion of cash and innovation to keep its plants open and workers employed, to say nothing of a new era of expansion.
Nippon Steel has promised to make that kind of investment to the tune of $2.7 billion. It has also promised no layoffs, plant closures or offshoring.
That’s music to the ears of Pennsylvania steelworkers and the communities they anchor, especially in the Pittsburgh area. No wonder so many union workers at U.S. Steel plants back the deal. At the Irvin Works in West Mifflin, 95% of United Steelworkers members support Nippon Steel’s merger proposal. They’re looking for politicians to champion their interests. Shapiro ought to stand with them.
But taking their side would mean getting on the wrong side of some of the union leaders. Unlike their boots-on-the-ground members, union executives oppose the deal because they want another American company to buy U.S. Steel.
But that other company is also struggling and would probably move jobs from Pennsylvania to Ohio. That’s fine for union leaders who don’t care where their members work. But it’s bad for Pennsylvania workers, who could lose their jobs or be forced to move.
Pennsylvania steelworkers need a leader who looks out for them. Shapiro should be that leader, even if it means upsetting his allies. Yes, it would require courage. But it would also pressure national politicians to follow his example.
Pennsylvania’s side
Like the 2024 election, Pennsylvania is in the national spotlight because of U.S. Steel. President Joe Biden opposes the deal and may block it before leaving office in January. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to do the same.
Imagine the Pennsylvania governor telling national leaders that local union members are counting on the deal with Nippon Steel. They’d find it harder to claim that they’re the ones who are looking out for those workers.
Or Shapiro can keep playing it both ways. That will surely lead to the worst outcome: the collapse of the deal and the loss of more steelmaking jobs across our state. Governor, please stop playing politics and show the leadership Pennsylvania needs.
Andrew J. Lewis, a former Pennsylvania State Representative, is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation.
First Published: December 19, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
