Chinese Dumping Affects Bishop

We are a group of mechanics working for Stractor-U.S. Tungsten Corp. in Bishop, Calif. We are greatly concerned about the very negative effect some government policies have had and are having on the domestic tungsten business in the United States.

Bishop is a small, rural town with a work force of approximately 4,500 people. In 1979 our employees totaled 454, or about 10%, of the local area work force. We now employ 65 people, or less than 2% of the total work force. Our operation has sustained substantial losses over the last four years. Continued operation under these circumstances is not possible.

We are convinced this very negative impact on the domestic tungsten business is not because of poor local business practices but due to the massive dumping of imported tungsten concentrates on the U.S. market by the Chinese.

Our mine, the largest tungsten mine in the free world, is shut down and the prospects for opening it up again look very bleak. Our processing mill, a modern, efficient mill, is operating on a very reduced schedule now. Our ability to compete in the marketplace is directy affected by the price of the tungsten concentrates. Our government seems to have been unable to exert any control over the ability of the Chinese to unload tungsten on the U.S. market.

The effect on our local community is quite evident. Many young people must leave this area to gain employment. The number of unemployed has risen. Schools in the area have found it necessary to lay off teachers because of the decrease in enrollment. The number of businesses in town that have had to close their doors has increased dramatically. The yearly property tax revenues have dropped to almost half. In short, you can say the economy has become less than desirable.

C. S. BALL

RAY BROWN

JOHN CORWIN, JR.

J. T. JONES

KEN KILGORE

RUDY KILGORE

BOB MORA

ARNOLD ROSSY

BILL STROHM

Bishop