{"id":25049,"date":"2025-09-23T15:32:40","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/?page_id=25049"},"modified":"2025-09-23T15:52:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T20:52:49","slug":"granite-city-works-a-victory-for-american-steel-and-working-families","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/granitecitygossip.com\/index.php\/granite-city-works-a-victory-for-american-steel-and-working-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Granite City Works: A Victory for American Steel and Working Families"},"content":{"rendered":"

Granite City Works: A Victory for American Steel and Working Families<\/strong>\u00a0
By State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Press Release September 23, 2025<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n

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Granite City has always been a steel town. Its factories and workers are the heartbeat of our community – providing strong union jobs that support families and fuel the local economy. That\u2019s why the recent decision to continue steel slab production at Granite City Works (GCW) is more than good news – it\u2019s a victory for the Metro East.

Earlier this month, U.S. Steel announced plans to halt slab production at GCW. The impact would have been devastating. hundreds of workers and their families thrown into uncertainty and a community shaken. We knew we had to act.

Our fight to protect these jobs has been ongoing. In 2018, President Trump visited GCW and pledged to revive American steel manufacturing\u2014a promise that led to new tariffs on foreign steel, the return of hundreds of good-paying manufacturing jobs, and the restart of blast furnace B.

But in 2023, GCW faced another blow when primary operations were indefinitely idled. Since then, we\u2019ve worked relentlessly, advocating by sending letters, meeting with officials, and engaging directly with company leaders to keep GCW alive.

In June, we urged President Trump to include GCW in Nippon Steel\u2019s investment plans. When we learned in September that slab production was set to end, we doubled down and contacted Trump administration officials, explored state solutions, and rallied local stakeholders.

Thanks to the decisive intervention of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick using the \u201cgolden share\u201d to hold U.S. Steel accountable, slab production will continue. Secretary Lutnick\u2019s leadership, and his direct engagement with CEO Dave Burritt, delivered a win for our workers and our region.

This outcome proves what persistence, partnership, and community advocacy can achieve. But our work isn\u2019t done. We remain focused on securing long-term protections for GCW and ensuring it remains a pillar of American manufacturing for years to come.

We\u2019ve offered to meet with Secretary Lutnick to discuss these concerns. While we\u2019re happy to travel to Washington, our invitation stands for him to visit Granite City and see firsthand the impact these decisions have on real families and the vital work being done here.

Granite City works because its people work. And together, we\u2019ll keep fighting for every job, every family, and every future in our community.

Senator Erica Harriss\u00a0\u2013 56th<\/sup> District<\/em>
Representative Amy Elik \u2013 111th<\/sup> District<\/em>
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