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Steelworkers In 3 States Gather Ormet Donations

Unionized steelworkers in three states are delivering groceries and toys collected for the families of workers laid off from Ormet Corp.'s aluminum smelter along the Ohio River. The United Steelworkers said items collected by members in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania were being delivered Monday and Tuesday from a union hall north of the shuttered plant in Hannibal, Ohio.

CLARINGTON, Ohio (AP) -- Unionized steelworkers in three states are delivering groceries and toys collected for the families of workers laid off from Ormet Corp.'s aluminum smelter along the Ohio River.

The United Steelworkers said items collected by members in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania were being delivered Monday and Tuesday from a union hall north of the shuttered plant in Hannibal, Ohio.

After filing for bankruptcy protection in February, Ormet closed the plant in October after Ohio utility regulators rejected portions of its proposal to reduce electricity costs.

The union has used petitions and a multimedia campaign to try to get Gov. John Kasich (KAY'-sik) involved in returning roughly 1,000 employees to work. His spokesman cites nearly $350 million in power discounts American Electric Power customers granted Ormet, which were insufficient to overcome industry conditions.

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