The United Steelworkers welcomed the announced stock purchase of Severstal’s USW represented assets by the Renco Group, including the former Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel facilities in the Ohio Valley, including Wheeling Corrugating in Wheeling and the Allenport facility in Allenport, the former WCI Steel facility in Warren and the former Bethlehem Steel facility in Sparrows Point along with a 50 percent ownership of Mountain State Carbon in Follansbee and Ohio Coatings in Ohio.

The USW and Renco have reached tentative agreement on a contract covering all the USW represented hourly production and maintenance workers, subject to membership ratification.

Mr Leo W. Gerard International President of USW praised union members and retirees at all of the facilities for standing together throughout the sales process, which began during the global economic crisis that led to a dramatic drop in steel demand.

He said “Our members have withstood two years of uncertainty brought about by circumstances beyond their control. Finally, their patience and solidarity have been rewarded, and the ownership issues have finally been resolved.”

USW District 1 Director Mr David McCall, who chairs the union’s negotiating committee, said that he looks forward to working with the new management during the transition and into the future.

He said “Our members are ready to focus again on making steel safely and efficiently, as they have in all of these communities for generations. We must now do everything we can to ensure the profitability of these plants and the sustainability of RG Steel as a long-term employer.”