> So the question is... did unions prevent a path to upgradation to new tech? Not really? The difference is referred to as "primary" vs "secondary" steelmakin

> So the question is... did unions prevent a path to upgradation to new tech? Not really? The difference is referred to as "primary" vs "secondary" steelmaking. The US pumped out enormous quantities of steel from 1910-1980ish and then usage decreased as better computer models as well as plastics allowed a lot more efficient use of the material. This meant that a bunch of used steel was available and nobody could really consume steel fast anymore. Consequently, "secondary" small mills recycling used steel were WAY more profitable than "primary" large mills making it from ore. This devastated the US steel industry which was mostly "primary" (some of that has changed). Then ... China ... started consuming vast quantities of steel for development. At some point, China bought up and used most of the used steel that was available. So ... today ... "secondary" steel is rising because the cheap used steel isn't laying around anymore. "Primary" steel is making a comeback as you need to produce original feedstock or the "secondary" producers have nothing to work with. The correct answer to all this is: it's a balance. You need some primary steelmaking or you simply run out of feedstock. You need some secondary steelmaking to tweak the type of steel and provide smaller, specialty runs.