Employees react to announcement of WCI sale
posted 4 p.m.Staff reports
POSTED: May 16, 2008
WARREN -- Employees of Warren's WCI Steel Inc. expressed uncertainty after learning of the companyás sale to OAO Severstal Friday.
"It's all up in the air right now," said John Gaffney, a motor inspector in the blast furnace who has been with the company for eight years.
"There was a mixed reaction at the time clock," said Becky Prokay, a 31-year WCI veteran who works in central maintenance. Prokay added that she hadn't heard any official word from the company about WCI's plans.
Gaffney said he learned of the sale in the shower after finishing his shift.
"Someone came in and said we were bought," said Gaffney. "Iám not going to say it's good or bad. We've just got to wait to see what happens."
Others were more optimistic about the company's future.
"I think it's the best thing that could've happened," said millwright Neil Parker, who has been with WCI for two years. "It canát hurt us."
Member Comments
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VoiceOfReason
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05-16-08 11:25 PM
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I hope you're right. What does the Detroit plant have that the Warren plant doesn't. Which one is more successful, and which one could be consolidated easier? Not to say that will happen, but just be cautious. Warren leaders better be preparing to discuss a package deal for incentives to stay.
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oldrunner
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05-16-08 9:35 PM
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The order book is strong at WCI right now and pricing is at record highs. WCI's product mix fits nicely with Severstal's concept of niche products.WCI has actually been a competitor of their Detroit plant and has capabilities that the Detroit plant doen't on many specialty products. This is the best thing that could have happened to WCI, getting out from under the hedge fund that owned them.
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sportguy
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05-16-08 7:56 PM
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Wait and see what this company does they will pump a ton of bucks into the plant and wci will be on the map again. Contracts are already in the works for orders. This company looked everywhere and i believe it was willing to build if needed.
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