NEWS9 has confirmed that RG Steel's facilities in Mingo Junction and Yorkville were sold at auction today. Details of the sale were not immediately clear. Local steel officials told NEWS9's Kelly Camarote that details of the sale, including who purchased the facilities could be released as early as tomorrow.

RG Steel's Wheeling assets were put on the auction block Tuesday after no primary bidder was found when the company entered bankruptcy. 

If winning bidders continue following the deadline set up by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware, sales could be finalized at a hearing on Aug. 8.

Local steelworkers said that could mean they will either be negotiating a new contract or they will lose all of their benefits on Aug. 8.

"We don't know who has bid. We don't know if there are any bidders. We don't know if these bidders are actually operational bidders or if they're looking to scrap the plants out. We have no information going forward," said United Steelworkers union Local 1223 President Jerry Conners.


Even after the scheduled auction to sell off RG Steel's Wheeling assets, there are still many unknowns.

Conners said the auction was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in New York because there was no "stalking horse" bidder -- which is a lead bidder -- for the Wheeling facility. Tuesday afternoon, Conners said he and other steelworkers were still waiting for the results of the Wheeling asset auction.


Auctions for RG Steel's Sparrows Point, Md., and Warren, Ohio, facilities have been postponed a week, but Conners said he was not sure why.


"I'm not real clear on why that is. There's been discussion on whether or not they were trying to generate more interest or whether or not a stalking horse has come forward," Conners said.


Local USW presidents are fielding many calls from concerned members.


"It's been very busy. We've had a lot of interest. A lot of our guys have been naturally interested on whether or not we're going to have a job. How long our contract is going to be in effect. How long our benefits are going to be in effect. And these are all questions I can't answer right now," Conners said.

Although rumors have steadily circulated about who the potential bidders could be, there are no specific court documents that list anyone or any company.


"The last two bankruptcies we've been involved in, it hasn't been that secret. … Both those times, Wheeling-Pitt had filed bankruptcy they had every intention coming out as a company after bankruptcy. This (RG Steel) bankruptcy was different. This is a chapter 11 reorganization when the company that has actually filed has no intention of going forward," he said.


NEWS9 will continue monitoring the bankruptcy court websites. Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage as details become available.