Mon Valley mayor reacts to Cleveland-Cliffs potential bid to buy U.S. Steel

CLAIRTON, Pa. — There’s a growing reaction following Monday’s press conference by Cleveland-Cliff’s CEO Lourence Goncalves.

Channel 11 brought you details of his press conference, Monday.

The company plans to make a bid to buy U.S. Steel. The decision follows President Biden’s choice to stop the existing deal with Japan-based Nippon Steel from becoming a reality.

Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi listened closely to Goncalves’ message.

“That kind of bothered me to the point where I thought I was watching Hitler for a minute,” Lattanzi said.” Myself being the Mayor of Clairton, it makes me very concerned.”

Goncalves called Japan “worse” than China saying Japan did “not learn anything since 1945.”

“I just didn’t expect to hear that from somebody coming from an educational background bringing up something that happened in 1945,” Lattanzi said.

He’s not the only skeptic.

The Vice President of United Steelworkers Local 1557 Richard TIkey sent Channel 11 a statement saying in part “How can our international union entertain the idea of Cleveland Cliffs merging with a non-union company, Nucor, in the purchasing of U.S. Steel?”

U.S. Steel, meantime, reacting saying:

Lourenco Goncalves’ press conference remarks are another attempt to shift attention away from the illegal, monopolistic conspiracies he has engaged in – all in the face of declining performance at Cleveland-Cliffs.

U. S. Steel has a merger agreement with Nippon Steel and remains committed to completing it. Only Nippon Steel’s partnership will deliver $55 per share to our shareholders and guarantee the significant capital investments and technology sharing needed to ensure a strong U. S. Steel for generations to come and protect jobs.

We are incredibly disappointed in the verbal attacks levied by Mr. Goncalves toward the outstanding local leadership across Pennsylvania, the many members of the USW who have supported the combination of U. S. Steel and Nippon Steel, and the people of Japan – a critical U.S. ally.

Latanzi agrees. He says the better option for the Mon Valley is Nippon.

“Does Cleveland-Cliffs want to be a monopoly? Are they buying the plants to shut it down to make themselves stronger? I didn’t hear their whole plan and I’m waiting to hear that,” Lattanzi said.

The deal with Nippon is not necessarily dead.

The two sides now have until June to complete the deal.

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