Comments on: Alexei Mordashov and Sparrows Point: portrait of a troubled steel mill and its enigmatic owner at a critical moment http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/ Stirring Up Baltimore News and Views Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:10:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: ablingcain http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-26293 ablingcain Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:45:00 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-26293 Mordashov cut back Sparrow Point's production and does not retool and modernize.  " The Point’s modernization plans were delayed and then scrapped. Company headquarters decided it would, then it wouldn’t, then it might close the L blast furnace. Eventually, the furnace was kept running on the now-controversial “all-pellet” diet. Both WCI Steel and Esmark were idled, leaving 6,000 steelworkers without jobs in Ohio and West Virginia.". In spite of this, the Department of Energy just made a  $773 million green loan to Severstal North America, Mordashov owns 83%, to retool a steel mill in Dearborn, Michigan, to manufacture high strength steel.  Mordashov is esimated to have $19 billion net worth.  Will the dept of energy ensure that real retooling does take place? Where is the union on this.    Is this another Solyndra in the making.    DOE Loan Guarantee Program at 202-586=8336 Mordashov cut back Sparrow Point’s production and does not retool and modernize. 
”
The Point’s modernization plans were delayed and then scrapped.
Company headquarters decided it would, then it wouldn’t, then it might
close the L blast furnace. Eventually, the furnace was kept running on
the now-controversial “all-pellet” diet.
Both WCI Steel and Esmark were idled, leaving 6,000 steelworkers without jobs in Ohio and West Virginia.”.

In spite of this, the Department of Energy just made a  $773 million green loan to Severstal North America, Mordashov owns 83%, to retool a steel mill in Dearborn, Michigan, to manufacture high strength steel.  Mordashov is esimated to have $19 billion net worth.  Will the dept of energy ensure that real retooling does take place?

Where is the union on this.    Is this another Solyndra in the making.    DOE Loan Guarantee Program at 202-586=8336

]]> By: BOB http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-17520 BOB Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:31:08 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-17520 THATS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE. YOU DONT LET CONTRACTORS COME IN TO DO THE UNIONS JOB. YOU ALSO DONT KICK THE OLDER MEN OUT OF THERES THEY HAVE WORKED 30 TO 40 PLUS YEARS FOR SECURITY. YOU GIVE THEM A GOOD CONTRACT AND THEY WILL GO. I AM 29 YEARS OLD AND HAVE 2 YEARS SERVICE SO I AM PART OF THE LAY OFF IF IT HAPPENS. I DONT WANT TO GET TO 30 YEARS AND HAVE THE COMPANY KICK ME ON THE STREETS. THATS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE. YOU DONT LET CONTRACTORS COME IN TO DO THE UNIONS JOB. YOU ALSO DONT KICK THE OLDER MEN OUT OF THERES THEY HAVE WORKED 30 TO 40 PLUS YEARS FOR SECURITY. YOU GIVE THEM A GOOD CONTRACT AND THEY WILL GO. I AM 29 YEARS OLD AND HAVE 2 YEARS SERVICE SO I AM PART OF THE LAY OFF IF IT HAPPENS. I DONT WANT TO GET TO 30 YEARS AND HAVE THE COMPANY KICK ME ON THE STREETS.

]]> By: BOB http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-17483 BOB Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:31:08 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-17483 THATS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE. YOU DONT LET CONTRACTORS COME IN TO DO THE UNIONS JOB. YOU ALSO DONT KICK THE OLDER MEN OUT OF THERES THEY HAVE WORKED 30 TO 40 PLUS YEARS FOR SECURITY. YOU GIVE THEM A GOOD CONTRACT AND THEY WILL GO. I AM 29 YEARS OLD AND HAVE 2 YEARS SERVICE SO I AM PART OF THE LAY OFF IF IT HAPPENS. I DONT WANT TO GET TO 30 YEARS AND HAVE THE COMPANY KICK ME ON THE STREETS. THATS THE STUPIDEST THING I HAVE HEARD IN A WHILE. YOU DONT LET CONTRACTORS COME IN TO DO THE UNIONS JOB. YOU ALSO DONT KICK THE OLDER MEN OUT OF THERES THEY HAVE WORKED 30 TO 40 PLUS YEARS FOR SECURITY. YOU GIVE THEM A GOOD CONTRACT AND THEY WILL GO. I AM 29 YEARS OLD AND HAVE 2 YEARS SERVICE SO I AM PART OF THE LAY OFF IF IT HAPPENS. I DONT WANT TO GET TO 30 YEARS AND HAVE THE COMPANY KICK ME ON THE STREETS.

]]> By: Ngreen1965 http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-17326 Ngreen1965 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 08:01:42 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-17326 To read about the Lawsuit on The Sun Newspapers on July 11th, 2010. , and I knew some of your older employees, who are in 60 years of age that still working with your Company now secretly visited the Law office of Peter Angelo with the intention of suing your Company for Asbestos exposure. As the Economy is getting harder, and facing lawsuits, I think it's time to consider about laid off, especially limited all overtime schedules and let the older employees go such as laid them off. Because the older the human are the health conditions are going to be poorer and increasing a lot of health's issues, less energy and performing a weak and poor job duties. Over the past few years, these older employees had been stayed on the clock too many hours ( 12 hours per days, and 6 or 7 days per week ). The guys are in the age of 60 and plus, can't give them too many hours and keep them with the Company too long, their health going to be failure and they will try to suing your Company, the longer you keep them on with the Company, the risks of lawsuits are greater. It's definetely time to do something to the older age employees, time to give the younger employees a chance to move up or even the outside Contractors a job. At least you do not have to pay the Contractors benefits as you are with your older age employees and the high risks of taking lawsuits are greater as long as you keep these older age employees on the job and too many houurs on the clock. It will take your Company to Bankrupt. Thank you!!! To read about the Lawsuit on The Sun Newspapers on July 11th, 2010. , and I knew some of your older employees, who are in 60 years of age that still working with your Company now secretly visited the Law office of Peter Angelo with the intention of suing your Company for Asbestos exposure. As the Economy is getting harder, and facing lawsuits, I think it's time to consider about laid off, especially limited all overtime schedules and let the older employees go such as laid them off. Because the older the human are the health conditions are going to be poorer and increasing a lot of health's issues, less energy and performing a weak and poor job duties. Over the past few years, these older employees had been stayed on the clock too many hours ( 12 hours per days, and 6 or 7 days per week ). The guys are in the age of 60 and plus, can't give them too many hours and keep them with the Company too long, their health going to be failure and they will try to suing your Company, the longer you keep them on with the Company, the risks of lawsuits are greater. It's definetely time to do something to the older age employees, time to give the younger employees a chance to move up or even the outside Contractors a job. At least you do not have to pay the Contractors benefits as you are with your older age employees and the high risks of taking lawsuits are greater as long as you keep these older age employees on the job and too many houurs on the clock. It will take your Company to Bankrupt. Thank you!!!

]]> By: Ngreen1965 http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-17324 Ngreen1965 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 04:01:42 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-17324 To read about the Lawsuit on The Sun Newspapers on July 11th, 2010. , and I knew some of your older employees, who are in 60 years of age that still working with your Company now secretly visited the Law office of Peter Angelo with the intention of suing your Company for Asbestos exposure. As the Economy is getting harder, and facing lawsuits, I think it's time to consider about laid off, especially limited all overtime schedules and let the older employees go such as laid them off. Because the older the human are the health conditions are going to be poorer and increasing a lot of health's issues, less energy and performing a weak and poor job duties. Over the past few years, these older employees had been stayed on the clock too many hours ( 12 hours per days, and 6 or 7 days per week ). The guys are in the age of 60 and plus, can't give them too many hours and keep them with the Company too long, their health going to be failure and they will try to suing your Company, the longer you keep them on with the Company, the risks of lawsuits are greater. It's definetely time to do something to the older age employees, time to give the younger employees a chance to move up or even the outside Contractors a job. At least you do not have to pay the Contractors benefits as you are with your older age employees and the high risks of taking lawsuits are greater as long as you keep these older age employees on the job and too many houurs on the clock. It will take your Company to Bankrupt. Thank you!!! To read about the Lawsuit on The Sun Newspapers on July 11th, 2010. , and I knew some of your older employees, who are in 60 years of age that still working with your Company now secretly visited the Law office of Peter Angelo with the intention of suing your Company for Asbestos exposure. As the Economy is getting harder, and facing lawsuits, I think it's time to consider about laid off, especially limited all overtime schedules and let the older employees go such as laid them off. Because the older the human are the health conditions are going to be poorer and increasing a lot of health's issues, less energy and performing a weak and poor job duties. Over the past few years, these older employees had been stayed on the clock too many hours ( 12 hours per days, and 6 or 7 days per week ). The guys are in the age of 60 and plus, can't give them too many hours and keep them with the Company too long, their health going to be failure and they will try to suing your Company, the longer you keep them on with the Company, the risks of lawsuits are greater. It's definetely time to do something to the older age employees, time to give the younger employees a chance to move up or even the outside Contractors a job. At least you do not have to pay the Contractors benefits as you are with your older age employees and the high risks of taking lawsuits are greater as long as you keep these older age employees on the job and too many houurs on the clock. It will take your Company to Bankrupt. Thank you!!!

]]> By: dave freeman http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-13121 dave freeman Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:03:11 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-13121 It is true it takes a lot of leaps of faith to get this company up and running again. I started working at sparrows point august 12,1976. God it was rolling then . I have seen things at sparrows point that I have not seen elsewhere. There are very good and hard working people there.There is a lot besides hard work peple in the union can do, and that,s innovation or ability to get the job done at a lower time and cost to owners. If the top brass would just take the time and build there teams up than constanly worry them by threatened lay-off things would be different around sparrows point,tell your,e people when things go right and praise them for it. Just remember, You get more with sugar than s--t! It is true it takes a lot of leaps of faith to get this company up and running again. I started working at sparrows point august 12,1976. God it was rolling then . I have seen things at sparrows point that I have not seen elsewhere. There are very good and hard working people there.There is a lot besides hard work peple in the union can do, and that,s innovation or ability to get the job done at a lower time and cost to owners. If the top brass would just take the time and build there teams up than constanly worry them by threatened lay-off things would be different around sparrows point,tell your,e people when things go right and praise them for it. Just remember, You get more with sugar than s–t!

]]> By: Steel Executive http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-11230 Steel Executive Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:15:18 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-11230 Yes, it is dead-on correct that the steel mill that Severstal is financing in Columbus, Mississippi, is a dire threat to the Point. A significant chunk of the Point’s cold roll and galvanized business ships via barge to Houston for the construction and appliance market segments. Columbus has spent the past 18 months becoming qualified on these specific accounts and there is no logical reason for this business not to be moved to Columbus. Low cost production, non-union shop, vastly reduced transportation costs...all leading to a more profitable model. But at the same time, the Point has an ideal location to move into the steel export business -NOW. Nucor Berkeley, outside of Charleston, South Carolina, has made a committed effort (as publicly revealed in their last earnings conference call) to attack the export market. Ironically, this business segment has kept their operating rates among the highest in the industry over the past 15 months. Yet Sparrows Point has done little to follow suit, even though these export clients were successfully serviced under ISG from Sparrows Point prior to the sale to ArcelorMittal and the subsequent transition to Severstal. Sparrows Point has the knowledge as to what it takes to service these guys, the value of the dollar is favorable in terms of international trade and, again, the location is ideal. So why are they not making it happen? Why can’t exports save the 600 jobs that Severstal wants to terminate at the Point? I am continuously amazed at the lack of “fire-in-the-belly” stance it will take for facilities like Sparrows Point to survive. And I’m saddened that the general public and employees within these facilities have little knowledge as to what is truly driving job losses and plant closures. While we stand around looking at one another for answers, even our domestic competition has found a solution. Maybe we need to look in the mirror to find the answer. Yes, it is dead-on correct that the steel mill that Severstal is financing in Columbus, Mississippi, is a dire threat to the Point. A significant chunk of the Point’s cold roll and galvanized business ships via barge to Houston for the construction and appliance market segments. Columbus has spent the past 18 months becoming qualified on these specific accounts and there is no logical reason for this business not to be moved to Columbus. Low cost production, non-union shop, vastly reduced transportation costs…all leading to a more profitable model.

But at the same time, the Point has an ideal location to move into the steel export business -NOW. Nucor Berkeley, outside of Charleston, South Carolina, has made a committed effort (as publicly revealed in their last earnings conference call) to attack the export market. Ironically, this business segment has kept their operating rates among the highest in the industry over the past 15 months.

Yet Sparrows Point has done little to follow suit, even though these export clients were successfully serviced under ISG from Sparrows Point prior to the sale to ArcelorMittal and the subsequent transition to Severstal. Sparrows Point has the knowledge as to what it takes to service these guys, the value of the dollar is favorable in terms of international trade and, again, the location is ideal.

So why are they not making it happen?

Why can’t exports save the 600 jobs that Severstal wants to terminate at the Point?

I am continuously amazed at the lack of “fire-in-the-belly” stance it will take for facilities like Sparrows Point to survive. And I’m saddened that the general public and employees within these facilities have little knowledge as to what is truly driving job losses and plant closures.

While we stand around looking at one another for answers, even our domestic competition has found a solution. Maybe we need to look in the mirror to find the answer.

]]> By: DT Murphy http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-11140 DT Murphy Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:14:23 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-11140 It is almost impossible to imagine Sparrows Point without that facility in operation, but unfortunately, that day may not be far off. What are the reasons that this facility has not opened up business as an "export driven" facility shipping into various European and far-eastern markets? The dollar is favorable, the transportation is readily available and economically feasible, the in-house knowledge as to how to properly and successfully export coils is in place (as proven not too many years ago) and their competitor to the south (Nucor Berekeley) is thriving as a flat roll exporter. Lack of ability, lack of vision or lack of leadership to make it happen or is it something more complicated? It sure makes sense for others, why not Sparrows Point? It is time to think in terms of survival, isn't it? It is almost impossible to imagine Sparrows Point without that facility in operation, but unfortunately, that day may not be far off.
What are the reasons that this facility has not opened up business as an “export driven” facility shipping into various European and far-eastern markets?
The dollar is favorable, the transportation is readily available and economically feasible, the in-house knowledge as to how to properly and successfully export coils is in place (as proven not too many years ago) and their competitor to the south (Nucor Berekeley) is thriving as a flat roll exporter.
Lack of ability, lack of vision or lack of leadership to make it happen or is it something more complicated?
It sure makes sense for others, why not Sparrows Point?
It is time to think in terms of survival, isn’t it?

]]> By: john cirri http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-10943 john cirri Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:32:59 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-10943 Usually, your writings live up to your motto "stirring up Bull&#@*" for once you are not far off. Usually, your writings live up to your motto “stirring up Bull&#@*” for once you are not far off.

]]> By: jerry glynn http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2010/02/16/alexei-mordashov-and-sparrows-point-portrait-of-a-troubled-steel-mill-and-its-enigmatic-owner-at-a-critical-moment/comment-page-1/#comment-10904 jerry glynn Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:46:55 +0000 http://baltimorebrew.com/publish/?p=8799#comment-10904 Refreshing to see this detailed reporting on what was once the proudest steel mill in the US. China has moved plans up from 2020 to 2012 to complete 42 lines of high speed trains. If the US moved this aggressively maybe more mills would have a market. Refreshing to see this detailed reporting on what was once the proudest steel mill in the US. China has moved plans up from 2020 to 2012 to complete 42 lines of high speed trains. If the US moved this aggressively maybe more mills would have a market.

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