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USW Responds To Wheeling-Pitt’s Decision To Withdraw CSN Transaction Proposal From November 17^th Annual Meeting

For Immediate Release                                     September 19, 2006

PITTSBURGH, PA –– The United Steelworkers (USW) today announced its reaction to the decision by the management of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Corporation (NASDAQ: WPSC) (“Wheeling-Pitt”) to withdraw the Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (NYSE: SID) (“CSN”) transaction proposal from consideration at the November 17th annual meeting of Wheeling-Pitt shareholders. 

“We’re pleased that Wheeling-Pitt’s management has now recognized that this proposal did not have the support of the USW and therefore cannot be completed,” said Dave McCall, Director of USW District 1. “In a sign of good faith, the USW has settled its grievance over the ‘Right to Bid’ provision in the Wheeling-Pitt Collective Bargaining Agreement,” he said.  The settlement assures that at the upcoming meeting the shareholders will have a clear choice between Esmark’s slate of directors and a continuation of the status quo.

McCall called on the Wheeling-Pitt Board of Directors to reconsider its opposition to the proposed Esmark proposal and focus its energies on ensuring the viability of the company.