| Age: | 50 - 54 |
| Location: | West Virginia |
| Industry: | Manufacturing |
| Job: | Steelworker |
| Unemployed Since: | January 2010 |
Comments
Joe, firstly sir- thank you for your service in the mill! secondly, I pray for your health! thank you for sharing this story even though there was a great deal of pain to speak it. You are right completely, people should not be treated this way. My grandfather retired from the mill, my poor father never got his retirment- he was like you - he was swindled even though it was a accident and not his fault. I too wanted to be a steel worker but i am glad i chose to go to the military. There was a time when i was mistreated also in the military, i had to go to War and was denied the chance to go see my daughter- what a thing to do and not knowing if your gonna come back. I am feel very bad for guys like you who are hard working, smart, qualified people. Its ironic, I had 22 years in the military as a leader with numerous training responsible for millions of dollars of equipment and was responsible for peoples lives yet I cannot find work. I was really fired up hearing your story and my Sicilian Grandfather "Starvaggi" is turning over in his grave right now - I'll tell you what he would of said if someone disrespected him like that - " I will take your life" in much lighter words. It seems that when the mill first started the workers ran it , now the leaders abuse it. I hope this finds you well God Bless
Joe, you're my hero. You explained the situation of the millions of unemployed in a way that truly zeroes in on the reality of the situation. Thank you.
Joe, I am from Steubenville and now in Indiana. My did worked at Weirton Steel 39 years and retired in 1976, I thank you for your story. Life was good in the 50's and 60's when I was growing up. About all of the neighborhood men and my parents' friends worked in the mill and had good livings. I still remember all the graphite dust all over the windows giving everything that "orange glow" and everyone feeling it was ok because it was "pay dirt". It is a total shame what has happened to the steel industry in this country.