YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Thousands of steelworkers poured into the street in front
of the Federal Court House here Dec. 4. The workers were demanding that the bankruptcy
court reject a Chapter 7 (liquidation) petition filed by LTV Steel Corporation.
During the hearing, at which only LTV testimony was presented that day, workers
jammed the hallways and the street.

Dave McCall, Ohio USWA district director and USWA’s chief negotiator with
LTV, said, “We are here to tell the judge we need time to secure loans,
find a buyer or whatever else is necessary to keep LTV operating, and asking
that he remove the present management and name a trustee to take over the company.
We already have an agreement with the creditors.”

Some of the maintenance workers at the rally said that they were ready to do
whatever it took to keep the Cleveland mills open. When LTV ordered maintenance
to begin permanent shutdown procedures, they refused the direct order.

The LTV workers were supported by political leaders, including Reps. Dennis
Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio), steelworkers from U.S.
Steel, members of Ohio’s labor leadership and members of the Steelworkers
Organization of Active Retirees (SOAR).

“A line has been drawn,” said USWA Indiana/Illinois District Director-elect
Jim Robinson as he opened the rally. “We’re saying no to Wall Street
and yes for workers.”

Robinson said, “LTV is only the beginning. This fight is to save our whole
steel industry.”

McCall said, “Our next stop is Washington, D.C.,” referring to the
Steel Revitalization Act of 2001 (S-957), which would reduce the stringent requirements
needed to secure a loan from the Federal Steel Emergency Fund.

Kucinich, who filed a “friend of the court” brief in bankruptcy court,
said “we are going into court to save your jobs, that is our main concern
…We also are going to save the future of our cities and our country by saving
the steel industry.”

Many speakers pointed to the fact that this is a life-and-death struggle to
save not only jobs and health care, but also entire cities and communities.
George Banks, Ohio SOAR Director, spoke of the harm the company wants to inflict
on retired steelworkers and of company refusals to negotiate.

Ohio state Sen. Bob Hagan said, “Business is wrapping itself in the flag
while they shut down the steel industry.”

Ohio AFL-CIO Representative Barry Buciglio, speaking on behalf of 700,000 union
members, said, “There is something wrong with a political system that caters
to corporate greed and gives nothing to workers.”

Wally Kaufman and Pat McKinney contributed to this article.

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