Laid off Workers Receive Benefits From Food Fund

Weirton, WV - Laid off Union members at Weirton Steel Corporation are now receiving $40 food vouchers from the Independent Steelworkers Union.

I.S.U. Office Manager Jim Andreozzi said the latest food voucher distribution was made possible by the public donations to the Union food fund.

"A lot of our union members have returned to work this summer but unfortunately we still have about 233 hourly and 33 salary non-exempt union members still on layoff status," Andreozzi explained.

Andreozzi said the I.S.U. Food Fund is continuing to accept monetary donations through the Steel Works Credit Union.

"And starting next week, Weirton Steel employees will be able to donate to the I.S.U. Food Fund through a payroll deduction process."

"Any employee will be able to make a one time donation or continuing donation to the Food Fund in order to help take care of our Union Brothers and Sisters. This is an extremely good cause because some of these union members have been laid off since last November," Andreozzi commented.

Meanwhile, Mark Glyptis, I.S.U. President said the Union remains confident the steel company will eventually call all laid off employees back to work.

"In recent days, we have seen Geneva Steel of Utah announce plans to start up a second blast furnace, and we believe we are quickly approaching the time and circumstances when a second blast furnace at Weirton Steel would make good business sense," Glyptis remarked.

He said the possible start up of the No. 4 Blast Furnace would mean most if not all of the laid off hourly employees being recalled to work.

"The Union is meeting with Company officials on a daily basis to look at getting our people back to work and helping this Company make money again," Glyptis said.