Hundreds Rally to Save Iron Range Mining Jobs

VIRGINIA - Outside the Miners Memorial Building a rally kicked off to save thousands of jobs officials say are being threatened by illegal imports.Those at the rally came to win. Imports of steel pipe and tube products coming into the United States from South Korea and nearly 10 other countries are fueling the battle."And this has huge implications for our U.S. steel mills and for our iron mines," Representative David Tomassoni (DFL) Chisholm said. Why? Because once the foreign goods hit U.S. soil they are sold at below market rate prices American steel producers can't compete with. That puts more than half a million steel–related jobs across the country at risk, especially on the Iron Range. "We got 3 taconite plants that supply these mills with iron ore to make the steel,” said John Rebrovich with the United Steelworkers Union. “So we're gonna see that ripple affect, how many we don't know yet." According to reports, imports of Korean Oil Country Tubular Goods, which are steel products used to extract oil and natural gas, have increased by 45% in the last few years."It's worth over $800 million,” Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said. “That's $800 million out of the pockets of Americans and we shouldn't allow that to happen.""I don't know how you feel about Korean steel but I'll tell you straight up its cheap (expletive) is what it is," Ed Schultz of MSNBC’s The Ed Show said. Representatives are asking the nation's capital to step in. They're hoping a pending trade case to enforce fair trade practices will work in their favor."President Obama when you get back to Washington D.C. sit down with the Department of Commerce and put tariffs on South Korean steel," Representative Thomas Bakk (DFL) Cook said. Officials say it's crucial they act now because with the U.S. becoming more oil independent there is a strong market for steel."Keep the playing field level and Minnesota taconite will not only compete it will win," said Dayton. A decision on the trade case is expected to be made in mid–July. This rally was the last stop in the national Save Our Steel Jobs campaign. Earlier rallies were held in Ohio, Illinois and Texas.