Dear editor,
The devastating explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works — which claimed lives, left others missing, and injured dozens — is a sobering reminder that tragedy can strike in any workplace, regardless of whether it is unionized or non-unionized.
Clairton Coke Works is a fully unionized facility, covered by one of the strongest labor agreements in the nation, yet this heartbreaking disaster still occurred. This proves a critical point: safety, skill, and quality do not come from limiting competition — they come from holding all contractors, union and non-union alike, to the same high standards.
Responsible Contractor Ordinances (RCOs) do the opposite. They artificially restrict bidding to a small group of union-affiliated contractors, shutting out qualified local businesses and driving up costs for taxpayers — without any guarantee of improved safety or quality. In fact, by excluding capable non-union firms, RCOs weaken the competitive environment that pushes every contractor to excel.
When the goal is safety and excellence, the focus should be on clear, enforceable performance and safety requirements for everyone — not political favoritism for a select few. The Clairton tragedy should push us toward policies that open the field to all qualified contractors, so communities can hire the best, most cost-effective teams available, regardless of labor affiliation.
It’s time to eliminate RCOs and replace them with truly fair standards that protect workers, respect taxpayers, and ensure the best outcomes for our projects.
Michelle Schelleberg
Centre County Republican Committee Chair
