GRANITE CITY, Ill. – Brian Hay always wanted to work at U.S. Steel. His dad and grandfather had worked there, and he thought it would be a good, steady job.
“My dad has been there since he was 18,” Hay said. “I got to enjoy a lot of nice things. I had a good childhood because of it.”
Hay was at his job for just a few months before he was laid off February 2015. The timing could not have been worse.
“When I got laid off in 2015, my wife was pregnant with our first child,” Hay said. “And at the same time, we just purchased our first home.”
After months of searching, Hay finally found a new job at a flour mill. Still, the pay and benefits did not compare to his old job. He remained hopeful about the steel mill.
“It would be a lot less stress off my wife and it would be better for my family,” Hay said.
Last month, he got a notice that he would be re-hired, along with hundreds of other workers who were laid off.
On top of that, about 100 brand new workers will start next week. They will be the first hires at the mill in about four years.
“It's exciting to see the people who were newly hired,” said Dan Simmons, Local 1899 President. “They understand these were good jobs with good benefits.”
Simmons said he is optimistic about the future of the mill. Last month, U.S. Steel announced it would re-open after President Trump announced plans for taxes on foreign steel.
“If this is the upside, we'll take that for the time being and hopefully these tariffs will correct that,” Simmons said.
Meanwhile, Hay is going through training. And, he said he is hoping to begin a long career at the mill.
“Long-term, I'm hoping I can advance, eventually be an electrician,” Hay said.
