One Millionth Brick Laid at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Plant

JOURNAL: ISSUE 1 - 2012

Observing a significant BAC-U.S. Steel refractory bricklaying milestone on December 21st: from left, Local 9 PA President David “Bucky” Donkin, Sr., BAC Executive Vice President Tim Driscoll, U.S. Steel Corporation Chairman and CEO John Surma, Graycor Industrial Constructors, Inc. Senior Vice President Thomas Muchesko, and Local 9 Executive Vice President Norm Ringer and Steward Robert Tohey.

Driscoll, Surma, and Donkin with brick number 1,000,000.

On December 21, 2011 outside Pittsburgh, officers of Local 9 Pennsylvania and the International Union took part in the ceremonial laying of the one-millionth brick at the U.S. Steel Corporation’s Clairton Plant – the nation’s largest coke making facility – where ongoing construction of new coke ovens being performed under the National Refractory Agreements has produced significant work hours for BAC members. During a ten-month period, “Those million-plus brick translated into more than 330,000 hours for our members, as reported by BAC signatory contractor Graycor Industrial,” says Local 9 Pennsylvania President David “Bucky” Donkin, Sr.

Clairton Plant’s 12 coke oven batteries produce approximately 4.7 million tons of coke annually, serving customers in the commercial coke market as well as U. S. Steel’s steelmaking operations.