Congresswomen Dingell and Tlaib Urge US Steel to Protect Worker Health & Safety During COVID-19

ECORSE, MI - After receiving several complaints from workers at the Great Lakes Works facility in Ecorse, Congresswomen Debbie Dingell (MI-12) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-13) are calling on US Steel to take all necessary measures to protect the health and safety of the workers immediately.

Dingell and Tlaib received confidential complaints about unsafe working conditions at the plant, including a lack of cleaning and absence of protocols to ensure that social distancing guidelines are being followed

"Employees at Great Lakes Works deserve a workplace that put their safety first and that follows guidelines issued by the federal government and the State of Michigan related to COVID-19," the lawmakers wrote to US Steel President and CEO David Burritt. "We are calling on you to immediately institute proactive measures, including a regular deep cleaning of all facilities, guidelines for how to practice proper social distancing at the plant, as well as determining which workers are not essential to plant operations and can remain at home. These new protocols must also be communicated clearly to all workers, so they know what measures are being taken to ensure their health and safety."

Dingell and Tlaib's letter to US Steel President and CEO is available here and below:

Dear Mr. Burritt:

This letter is in regards to complaints we have received about working conditions during the COVID-19 epidemic at Great Lakes Works in Ecorse, Michigan. As you know, this pandemic has hit Michigan incredibly hard and ensuring the health and wellbeing of our citizens must be our top priority. Employees at Great Lakes Works deserve a workplace that put their safety first and that follows guidelines issued by the federal government and the State of Michigan related to COVID-19.

We have personally received complaints about unsafe working conditions at the plant, including a lack of cleaning and an absence of protocols to ensure that social distancing guidelines are being followed. Ensuring these protections are in place at Great Lakes Works is essential to ensuring that your workers are not being put at risk by going to work at your facility. We are calling on you to immediately institute proactive measures, including a regular deep cleaning of all facilities, guidelines for how to practice proper social distancing at the plant, as well as determining which workers are not essential to plant operations and can remain at home. These new protocols must also be communicated clearly to all workers, so they know what measures are being taken to ensure their health and safety.

We all have a role to play to prevent unnecessary exposure to COVID-19 during this pandemic. We look forward to your response on changes you are making to plant operations to put the safety and health of your workers first.

Sincerely,

Debbie Dingell

Rashida Tlaib

Members of Congress