Furthermore, the company has pledged to appoint American citizens to board seats and top management positions at U.S. Steel post-merger. Union leaders also spoke out Thursday against a pro-sale petition they claim U.S. Steel and Nippon are forcing supervisors to pass around to workers. U.S. Steel spokesperson Amanda Malkowski called this accusation "completely inaccurate," even as local union leaders and rank-and-file workers have engaged in a letter-writing campaign. Nippon Steel declined to comment.