A laid-off Sparrows Point worker reflects on the past and the future

[Spot72]

As Sparrows Point slouches toward a final transformation into who-knows-what (would-be buyers face a Dec. 21 deadline to submit bids—probably the last chance for continued steel production there), Price called City Paper to complain about our Oct. 17 feature (“Point of Departure”), which was written without consulting any steel workers. “Steel workers want it to be a steel mill,” he says. “That should go without saying, but it has to be said, because some people are not saying it.”

Over a ground-beef pizza Price holds forth on what it’s like to be laid off, what Sparrows Point means to him, planning for the future and the shock of life not only without a job, but without the clout that the millwright job afforded him a few months ago, when his judgment could gain or lose the company hundreds of thousands of dollars in an instant—or save lives.

The whole process of rethinking Sparrows has been flawed, Price says. “I’m upset that there’s a 17-member board looking into the future of Sparrows Point, and there’s not a single union official on it—and not even a superintendent from the mill,” he says. “These people are knowledgeable about what’s there.”

http://citypaper.com/news/a-millwrig...tale-1.1414829

[demopublican]

There is a new Target hiring in Canton.

[Woodbuchr]

There is a new Target hiring in Canton.

Wow, thanks for the advice Unlike some callous individuals I wouldn't wish losing their job on anyone or make snide comments about those that do.

This closure did not only affect the Steelworkers. There are hundreds of others affected as well. Air Products (who supplied the oxygen and other gasses for the production of steel), Maryland Pig (which for the ignorant of the terminology processed the extra molten iron to "pigs" which are small ingots of iron and sold them for a profit), The LaFarge Plant which took the slag from the iron making process and converted it into concrete products, Nelson Box who supplied shipping pallets for the steel, and many suppliers and shippers lost jobs.

Yeah, Target is hiring, thanks again. I am sure the lost tax revenue for the state from a steel mill will be more than made up for by the Target store.

[dogstarman]

Really sad, but you can't say the workers didn't see it coming for years.

Especially by the time that slimy billiionaire effectively bought it out on his credit card as part of some tax scheme, the days were already numbered. He even stiffed Baltimore city with a 5+ million dollar water bill,

[demopublican]

Wow, thanks for the advice Unlike some callous individuals I wouldn't wish losing their job on anyone or make snide comments about those that do.

This closure did not only affect the Steelworkers. There are hundreds of others affected as well. Air Products (who supplied the oxygen and other gasses for the production of steel), Maryland Pig (which for the ignorant of the terminology processed the extra molten iron to "pigs" which are small ingots of iron and sold them for a profit), The LaFarge Plant which took the slag from the iron making process and converted it into concrete products, Nelson Box who supplied shipping pallets for the steel, and many suppliers and shippers lost jobs.

Yeah, Target is hiring, thanks again. I am sure the lost tax revenue for the state from a steel mill will be more than made up for by the Target store.

Yeah, sorry. My joke was in bad taste. I was making fun of the poster bragging about a silly target in Canton as some kind of victory for Baltimore City. But my joke was not funny because of the tough job situation.

[BlandFood]

Maybe the UAW will buy it and restore it to what it once was? I mean Bobo GAVE them GM at taxpayer expense.

[RavnFreek]

Really sad, but you can't say the workers didn't see it coming for years.

Especially by the time that slimy billiionaire effectively bought it out on his credit card as part of some tax scheme, the days were already numbered. He even stiffed Baltimore city with a 5+ million dollar water bill,

First I will say it really sucks that all these folks are losing their jobs. I can't imagine being unemployed for any length of time and try to support a family. Good luck to all of them.

Now.. These folks knew this was coming one form or another for years now. If I had been a sparrows point worker I would have been doing everything in my power to find another job before they shut the place down. If that meant going to college or trade school to learn a new skill so be it. You may have to enter a new job market on the low end, but at least I had a job with a potential future. So where was the savior union during this? Did they help the workers learn new skills or find new jobs? What did the union do for these guys? These guys were brainwashed into thinking the union would save them. They were wrong.

[Spot72]

Yeah, sorry. My joke was in bad taste. I was making fun of the poster bragging about a silly target in Canton as some kind of victory for Baltimore City. But my joke was not funny because of the tough job situation.

How pathetic is this comment? "Some kind of victory", "silly Target", really?

[demopublican]

How pathetic is this comment? "Some kind of victory", "silly Target", really?

Silly as in: Target jobs like the 200 you promoted yesterday as nice. But they do not replace middle class family supporting jobs.

[demopublican]

First I will say it really sucks that all these folks are losing their jobs. I can't imagine being unemployed for any length of time and try to support a family. Good luck to all of them.

Now.. These folks knew this was coming one form or another for years now. If I had been a sparrows point worker I would have been doing everything in my power to find another job before they shut the place down. If that meant going to college or trade school to learn a new skill so be it. You may have to enter a new job market on the low end, but at least I had a job with a potential future. So where was the savior union during this? Did they help the workers learn new skills or find new jobs? What did the union do for these guys? These guys were brainwashed into thinking the union would save them. They were wrong.

Exactly. The unions sold them a bill of goods and they bought it.

[Spot72]

Silly as in: Target jobs like the 200 you promoted yesterday as nice. But they do not replace middle class family supporting jobs.

What?

200 jobs will not be all hourly positions. Are you kidding?
You think a Target store will have 200 cashiers or customer service positions?

Please save yourself further ridicule and refrain from posting in this thread.

[dogstarman]

... So where was the savior union during this? Did they help the workers learn new skills or find new jobs? What did the union do for these guys? These guys were brainwashed into thinking the union would save them. They were wrong.

I don't know what the union did as far as re-training and job-search near the end, but I don't think anyone was "brainwashed" by the union.

Ultimately, the workers are responsible for their careers. They had education opportunities handed to them when times were good. Some obviously took up those opportunities and then acted upon them. Others did not (perhaps by choice). 2000 jobs is a lot, but it is a shadow of what it once was.

Sadly, steel-making isn't the industry that it used to be. Hopefully something productive will come up out of the scrap in Sparrows point.

[yeah]

once the plant becomes defunct they should remove everything and turn it into some nice waterfront townhomes

[demopublican]

What?

200 jobs will not be all hourly positions. Are you kidding?
You think a Target store will have 200 cashiers or customer service positions?

Please save yourself further ridicule and refrain from posting in this thread.

Warehouse $6-12 and hour. Cashier and store floor $6-12/hour. A couple of team leaders at $10-21/hour and MAYBE a few Executive team leaders at $55K.

[demopublican]

once the plant becomes defunct they should remove everything and turn it into some nice waterfront townhomes

Sure, no hazardous waste out there to worry about.

[BlandFood]

Make it into a Mt. Trashmore..... that land is going to be polluted for the next 10K years. It MAY be a good thing for the Bay, all one needed to do is look at the water quality 5 miles south of the Patapsco compared to the area around SP.

[Spot72]

Warehouse $6-12 and hour. Cashier and store floor $6-12/hour. A couple of team leaders at $10-21/hour and MAYBE a few Executive team leaders at $55K.

Numbers don't add up demo'

For a retail such as Target to have 80 employees that are cashiers and floor support is impressive. (including full and part time)

Say they have 15 team leaders, and the warehouse is let's say 30 employees. 4-5 assistant managers and 1 store manager and you are still left with positions. Overall it's good news that you simply can not derail.

[demopublican]

Numbers don't add up demo'

For a retail such as Target to have 80 employees that are cashiers and floor support is impressive. (including full and part time)

Say they have 15 team leaders, and the warehouse is let's say 30 employees. 4-5 assistant managers and 1 store manager and you are still left with positions. Overall it's good news that you simply can not derail.

Good luck. I hope it works out for you.

You look good and red & khaki

[Woodbuchr]

Yeah, sorry. My joke was in bad taste. I was making fun of the poster bragging about a silly target in Canton as some kind of victory for Baltimore City. But my joke was not funny because of the tough job situation.

Apology accepted. I see now what you meant once you explained it. I agree and as I said in my post that Target will not replace the revenue lost to the state by the loss of the Sparrows Point Steel Mill.

[Eastside Terp]

grew up in east baltimore the son of a sparrows point steel worker .......

my dad spent a lot of my teenage years during the 70's layed off .......

that keep me in school ......

he eventually got his pension but then lost his benefits ........

blames and hates the unions to this day ......