Nippon Steel executive visits Gary to sell U.S. Steel workers on acquisition bid
GARY, Ind. (CBS) -- With fears of big job losses in Northwest Indiana, the vice chairman of Japan's Nippon Steel visited Gary, Indiana to drum up support for its bid to buy U.S. Steel.
Both President Biden and President-elect Trump have vowed to block the $15 billion acquisition on national security grounds.
David McCall, president of the United Steelworkers Union, also opposes the deal. He is concerned that Nippon will transfer jobs outside het U.S.
On Thursday, Nippon's vice chairman joined Gary Mayor Eddie Melton—saying the deal will insure the future for the U.S. Steel Gary Works.
"I think we need to be concerned if this deal does not happen, the current CEO stated that there will be plant closures," said Mayor Melton. "Nippon has been very clear that they want to honor the contract; they want to honor the pension obligations."
Nippon Steel said it plans to invest $300 million to upgrade Gary's facility. The company is also offering a $5,000 bonus to every U.S. Steel employee if the deal goes through.
McCall calls this offer "simple bribery."