Union and Butler community members gathered at BC3’s Founder Hall last night for a town hall hosted by Congressman Mike Kelly to discuss a potential Department of Energy rule that threatens the Cleveland Cliffs Butler Works Plant.
Kelly was there garnering support in opposition of the DOE proposal with both plant union members and representatives from Cleveland Cliffs.
Aaron Steinheiser is the General Manager at the Cleveland Cliffs Butler and Zanesville plants and has spent his whole life in Butler. For him the Butler plant is more than just where he works.
“These are not just union people that work for us, these guys are family as well. It’s very important for us,” Steinheiser said. “When you look at Cliffs as a business, we’re a profitable plant. That’s why we’re here.”
“Cliffs took over a couple of years ago and they showed that. They made the Butler and Zanesville plants profitable,” Steinheiser added.
While last week Governor Josh Shapiro believed the plant closing was unlikely, Kelly believes the governor is misleading people.
“I have no regard for anything he said. He just talked. He just said that, there was no language or anything,” Kelly said.
The DOE is under a court order deadline to announce the final rule by late June.
