Charity concert tops U. S. Steel Kosice's year-round sponsoring activities

The State Theater in Kosice was the venue last Friday for the "Bountiful Snowflakes" Christmas charity concert, which was attended by many specially-invited guests, and has already become the traditional culmination of U. S. Steel Kosice's year-round sponsorship activities. On behalf of U. S. Steel Kosice President Christopher Navetta, who was prevented by working obligations from enjoying the event from the very beginning, the audience was addressed by Vice-president Commercial Joseph Scherrbaum.
Then it was the Company's turn once again to distribute its largesse. First there were awards for two individuals for whom helping others is a natural feature of their lives. The first of them, who accepted his award personally from Vice-president Strategic Implementation Anton Jura was professional rescue-worker Miroslav Nagy, who is also a Slovak Red Cross instructor and spends time teaching first aid to children. The second was a young man who does not have "saving people's lives" written literally in his work description, nor does he have any medical qualifications, but one ordinary day he gave immediate assistance to a customer who stopped breathing after going into a faint.
"Anyone else would have done the same in my place," said Martin Mikler modestly after receiving his award from Vice-president Technology Michael Fedorenko. His act of humanity was applauded by the audience, particularly by the person whose life he saved - Albert Richtarcik. The high-point of this grand evening was the presentation of a joint financial gift from the company U. S. Steel Kosice and its employees amounting to 1 918 223 SKK to the staff of the Kosice Emergency and Rescue Service for the purchase of a new ambulance. The Kosice rescue team undertake around 16 000 missions every year providing rapid medical and rescue assistance, and their director Ladislav Simak did not hide his emotion when he accepted the symbolic check from Joseph Scherrbaum.
Recorded highlights of the "Bountiful Snowflakes" Christmas charity concert are to be broadcast next week by six local television stations around Eastern Slovakia - TV Reduta Spisska Nova Ves (Dec. 20th at 6.00 pm), TV Humenne (Dec. 23rd at 6.30 pm), TV Nasa Kosice (Dec. 25th at 6.00 pm), TV Poprad (Dec. 26th at 5.00 pm) and TV Bardejov (Dec. 26th at 6.00 pm).

U. S. Steel Kosice Objects to Reduced CO2 Allowances for Slovakia

U. S. Steel Kosice strongly opposes the 14 percent reduction in CO2 emission allowances in the October 20, 2004 National Allocation Plan (NAP) between Slovakia and the European Commission. The original NAP request by Slovakia for 2005 - 2007 was well within the limits of the Kyoto Protocol. If this reduction is passed through to Slovak industry, the harm would be not only to the companies, but also to their employees through reduced wages and job losses.
Slovakia's prospects for future economic development also would suffer. There is no justification for any reduction in the original amount of CO2 allowances requested by Slovakia. U. S. Steel Kosice provided scientific, accurate data for its plant as part of the original Slovak plan for CO2 emissions for 2005 - 2007, based on the plant's planned production levels. These production levels already are limited by EC restrictions including production caps agreed to by Slovakia. Any reduction in the CO2 allowances originally requested by U. S. Steel Kosice will negatively impact the company, make it less competitive with foreign steel producers, and potentially jeopardize hundreds of jobs.
U. S. Steel Kosice is an environmentally responsible company, is pro - active in this responsibility and has invested billions of Slovak Crowns in modernization and installation of environmental protection facilities. U. S. Steel Kosice has been in constant contact with Slovak Government officials urging them to reopen discussions with the EC and demand that the original CO2 allowances be accepted by the European Union. If a solution to this situation is not found, the company will consider all necessary means, including direct legal actions, to protect its rights and the rights of its employees.

Summer internships again next year

Over the last three years the two-month summer internships (paid work-experience courses) organized by U. S. Steel Kosice have been attended by a total of 121 third- and fourth-year students from various technical colleges and universities. Interest in these internships at the Kosice steelworks is growing every year, and last year there were applications from more than 200 college students.
Based on this good experience the summer internships will be continuing next year as well, Ocel Vychodu was told by Personnel Service and Education Department Manager Milan Polca. This offer from U. S. Steel Kosice is meant for young people finishing either the third or fourth year of technical college or university in 2005. Students who are interested in the internship will be expected to demonstrate excellent knowledge of spoken and written English, competence in PC use, flexibility in work and reliability in ethical principles.
Application letters with resumes in Slovak and English attached should be sent by January 30th 2005 at the latest to the Personnel Service and Education Department at U. S. Steel Kosice, then applicants will be invited to an English language test before the end of March, and to an interview in English before June 15th 2005.

Help for the High Tatras

Last week the Mayor of the town Vysoke Tatry (High Tatras) Jan Mokos was presented with one hundred sets of insulated working clothes by representatives of U. S. Steel Kosice. These are intended for people taking part in eliminating the aftermath of the destructive gale which struck the mountains on November 19th this year.