Campbell Memorial High School - Reveler Yearbook (Campbell, OH)

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SHEET AND TUBE SHUTDOWN THREATENS THE STEEL VALLEY J nb calot . C.urW-r NN |V »‘ V nton youngtflownWnbicator .'L • r. S it T Moving to Indiana; ' 3,000 Here to Lose Jobs It is highly unlikely that anyone will be coming here for a job in the future. CAMPBELL IS HIT HARD Without a doubt, the biggest issue having a sig- nificant effect on the student body arose in mid- September on a day that became known as Black Monday. The students were still celebrating the first football victory of the season when, without any warning, the Youngstown Sheet and Tube works announced the layoffs of 5,000 workers from its local mill. Unfortunately, some 1,200 jobs that were lost belonged to Campbell citizens. A dark cloud seemed to hover over the entire student body as they began to realize the possible long-range effects that could be in store for the Mahoning Valley due to the partial shutdown. Of immediate concern to the Campbell city schools was the loss of money that the Sheet and Tube sup- plied through personal properly taxes. Their taxes amounted to $4,785,323 and a reported S3.349,725 was used to run the school system. Rumors began to fly among the students: “We could be the last grad- uating class from MUST “Campbell will become a ghost town.” Teachers were equalled concerned: “I may not have a job next year!” The Lykes Corporation, owner of the mill, gave several reasons for the shutdown. One of the major obstacles that I.ykcs faced was meeting the July 1, 1977 deadline to clean up the Mahoning River. The company wanted a six year extension on setting up these pollution control devices, and the Environmental Protection Agency acknowledged the Steel Valley’s economic hardship. However, only Congress had the authority to extend the deadline, which they did not do. Lykes also put forth the argument that they could no longer make a profit here because of the tough Japanese competition in the steel industry. Japan's mills arc modern and labor is cheap. To modernize the Youngstown mill would lake millions of dollars so, instead. Lykes decided that their major steel pro- duction center would be at Indiana Harbor, near Chicago. Many citizens have already moved and many more arc planning on it. Carter has not lent us any help in the past six months, despite the numerous petitions that were signed and sent to him by the students and the community. The busloads of people that went all the way to the White House arrived only to be turned away.