"Mr Miller, only the second nonsteel outsider to lead te company since it's formation in 1904.........will not be involved in day to day steel-making operations. Rather, he will concentrate on negotiating lower colst agreements with the United Steel Workers..........and pressing the government to enforce laws that limit the amount of steel coming into the country." Miller said, "The current business model is not viable.........I have to sit down with the union and talk about productivity rules. I don't mind paying for eight hours of hard work, butr I want to make sure that when we pay, we get the hard work that goes with it." He also said that he wants to renegotiate benefits "without impacting the pocketbooks of our employees"
One wonders how long it will be before steel becomes a security issue in the permanent was economy, don't one?
Tuesday September 25 07:11 AM EDT 'Mr. Fix-It' takes over Steel By DAN SHOPE , Of The Morning Call Robert S. "Steve" Miller Jr., who helped Chrysler get a $1.5 billion federal bailout, has been named chairman and chief executive officer of faltering Bethlehem Steel Corp. (BS - news)
"Beginning with my experience in 1980 in the rescue of Chrysler, I have seen firsthand the miracles that can be accomplished when management, labor and government all come together," Miller said. "I intend to see that happen here at Bethlehem."
The turnaround specialist wouldn't predict a federal bailout of the slumping steel industry, much like the airlines got last week.
"It is way too early to tell what the avenue will be for the steel industry," Miller said. "The airlines had a complete and sudden disruption [on Sept. 11]. We are longer-term."