Alabama Iron and Steel Council

UAB to start-up metals testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama.  Article from The Birmingham News

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2010/04/new_metal_lab_at_uab_could_tra.html

Since its creation as a public-private partnership by Governor Bob Riley in 2008, the Alabama Iron and Steel Council has worked to develop strategies to support and grow the state’s vital iron and steel industry.  At its quarterly meeting in September, the Council approved an action plan aimed at promoting public awareness of the industry and the significant achievements of iron and steel companies in two key areas: Environmental and Energy Issues, and Education and Workforce Development.

The focus areas reflect priority issues for all of Alabama’s iron and steel companies, and areas where public awareness often is lacking of the positive stories the industry has to tell.  The public awareness initiative includes formation of two new action groups to develop and implement specific strategies and activities for each of the key focus areas.  The action groups are comprised of representatives from the Council’s various member organizations, including iron and steel producing companies, supplier and customer companies, state government agencies, and the university community.

In the first focus area – involving environmental and energy issues – the iron and steel industry in Alabama has a record of leadership that the action group will focus on.  These include development of benchmark programs and processes that have eliminated or significantly reduced emissions and have substantially cut consumption of non-renewable sources of energy.  Iron and steel producers have a century long tradition of efficient recycling practices – recycling old products, waste materials and energy long before recycling became an environmental buzzword — and the industry remains among the most efficient recyclers anywhere in the world.  Alabama’s iron and steel companies also are involved with a number of conservation, wildlife habitat and wetlands reclamation projects that benefit the state and its citizens.  The Iron & Steel Council will implement plans to highlight these and many other environmental and energy conservation stories.

In addressing the second focus area, the Education and Workforce Development Action Group will identify ways to promote the rewarding career paths offered by Alabama’s iron and steel industry and to work with educators to develop curricula and courses to give employees the skill-sets needed for today’s computer-driven high-tech iron and steel-making processes.  The growing iron and steel industry provides some of the state’s most lucrative career opportunities, with some of the highest pay and best benefits in Alabama’s business community.  The Iron and Steel Council will work closely with education officials at the state and local levels to promote these opportunities among students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors.  The Education and Workforce Development Action Group will recommend ways to dovetail with the existing training initiatives under way in Alabama while focusing on the specific opportunities and needs of the state’s iron and steel companies.

An initial project for both focus areas will involve creation of an industry video that will highlight the positive, high-tech, green record and the career opportunities provided by iron and steel companies.  The video will be used to help tell the industry’s story to educators and students, employees, business leaders, elected officials, the media and others. 

The focus area initiative will be developed over the next year by the two action groups in concert with the existing committee structure of the Iron and Steel Council, including the Council’s Executive Committee, Communications Committee and Governmental affairs Committee.

The result of the first company survey of our membership have been compiled of the first quarter of 2009.  Despite a challenging economic atmosphere the iron and steel industry continues to have a strong impact on Alabama’s economy in the area’s of production, employment and capital spending.

 480,000  tons of iron were produced at Alabama plants in the first quarter of this year.

 The total tons of steel produced in the same period was roughly 1.2 million

 8,122  people are employed in hourly and salaried, full-time, part-time and contract positions at Alabama plants and facilities.

 The total wages paid to these employees was $121,757 million excluding the costs of benefits. 

 And over $128 million was spent on ALL Capital Investment Spending at Alabama plants and facilities in the first quarter of 2009.

 Shipments of over 1.2 million tons were also made to destinations within Alabama, other states, and foreign countries during this time.

The Alabama Iron & Steel Council (AISC) slate of officers will serve through June, 2011.

Mike Buckentin, Vice President and General Manager of CMC Steel in Birmingham, was elected council Chairman.

Van Richey, President of American Cast Iron Pipe Co. (ACIPCO), Birmingham, was elected Vice Chairman.

Brian Tomlinson, Controller for SSAB Steel North America, Axis, was re-elected council Treasurer.

Jim Bennett, Commissioner of Labor for the State of Alabama, was re-elected council Secretary.

AISC was formed by the Governor in 2008 as a public-private advisory council to promote the competitiveness and growth of the state’s steel producing and ductile iron pipe industries. Members were appointed from Alabama’s iron and steel companies; selected supplier and customer groups; the Alabama Legislature; Alabama State agencies; and the university community.

Alabama Iron & Steel Council officers gathered at a recent visit to Tannehill Ironworks State Park near Birmingham.  Pictured, left to right:  Brian Tomlinson, SSAB Steel, Council Treasurer;  Van Richey, ACIPCO, Council Vice Chairman; Mike Buckentin, CMC Steel, Council Chairman, and Jim Bennett, Alabama Labor Commissioner, Council Secretary

By Executive Order of Alabama Governor Bob Riley:

Executive Order Number 39

WHEREAS, the Alabama iron and steel industry, historically one of the state’s leading providers of manufacturing jobs, has made a remarkable recovery over the last five years, and

WHEREAS, Alabama, which ranked fifth among the 50 states in steel production in 2006, may move into second place nationally within the next three years with added production facilities now under development, and
WHEREAS, Alabama’s primary and fabricated metal manufacturing industries provide jobs for 48,000 workers.
WHEREAS, continued growth, development and stability of new and existing iron and steel industries are vital to the state’s economy and employment outlook, and

WHEREAS, it is deemed to be in the public interest to actively promote the iron and steel industry, identify and provide solutions to problems affecting growth and to strengthen ties between steel producers and product manufacturers.

NOW THEREFORE, based upon these considerations, and for other good and valid reasons which relate thereto, I, Bob Riley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, do hereby create the Alabama Steel Council, which shall be a public-private partnership of respected Alabamians, including steel company officials, related product manufacturers, major customers, raw materials and utility providers and public officials.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that:

1. The Council shall consist of 21 members, 19 of whom shall be appointed by the governor, including at least one from each steel manufacturing company or producer of cast iron pipe which number shall be consistent with the total number of such manufacturing companies in the state, the agency directors of the Alabama Development Office, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Alabama Department of Labor and two members from Alabama universities and colleges, public or private, provided that both a school of engineering and a school of business administration shall be represented by these two members. The governor shall also appoint one company executive from a major steel customer in the state such as the automobile industry and five members from categories including energy suppliers, coal suppliers, steel distributors and providers of raw materials or furnace products. Of the remaining two members, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House each shall appoint one member each from their respective houses representing iron or steel manufacturing districts.

2. Within sixty days after the signing of this executive order, the governor, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House, shall make their respective initial appointments to the council. Terms of office for members appointed by the governor shall be for three years from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which they were appointed. Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. A member shall continue in office until his or her successor takes office. The terms of legislative members shall coincide with the quadrennial term for which they were publicly elected. Additional seats are automatically created to accommodate new steel mills moving into the state.

3. Eleven members of the council shall constitute a quorum. The council shall provide for the selection of officers, in addition to the chairman whom the governor shall initially appoint, and meet at least three times during a calendar year, either upon call of the chairman or upon the request of five or more members. Location of council meetings shall be at the call of the chair and meetings may be held around the state.

4. The organizational meeting of the council shall be held no later than 90 days after the signing of this executive order.

5. The Alabama Labor Department shall provide the council with staff assistance as may be needed. If the council determines, by a majority vote, to conduct studies or engage additional staff or office space, the funds shall be derived from contributions from the steel industry or other interested parties. The council, by majority vote, may establish a membership fee schedule.

6. Upon request, the council shall advise state and local government officials on questions and matters affecting the steel industry.

7. The council shall publish an annual report, due no later than first day of October of each year, on the condition of the Alabama iron and steel industry including energy demand and supply, economic impact, growth, plant closings or acquisitions, business generation and capital projects related to the industry. The report shall be sent to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the House, House and Senate majority and minority leaders and to the standing committees of the House and Senate to which matters concerning commerce and labor are normally referred.

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that this Executive Order shall become effective immediately upon its execution and shall remain in effect until amended or modified by the Governor.

DONE AND ORDERED this 13th day of February, 2008.

Amendment of March 5, 2008