ArcelorMittal Cleveland closing mill and finishing plant; 990 steelworkers losing jobs

[Dr.Phool]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

ArcelorMittal Cleveland closing mill and finishing plant; 990 steelworkers losing jobs
Posted by Frank Bentayou/Plain Dealer Reporter March 06, 2009 09:38AM


Updated at 2:10 p.m.

CLEVELAND -- ArcelorMittal Cleveland said Friday that it will halt operations at its mill and finishing plant in the Flats in early May, suspending jobs for about 950 steelworkers and leaving the fates of about 200 salaried employees uncertain.

The plant, which employed more than 1,400 members United Steelworkers of America Local 979 as recently as last summer, will have around 250 employees providing basic fire watch and maintaining the water treatment, boiler and environmental systems, according to a written statement from the facility's spokeswoman.

Local 979 President Mark Granakis said he had expected the company to cut workers further this month or next, "but I never thought there was going to be this severe a reduction. I realize the economy's hurting. I don't think they're laying people off because they want to, but it is hard."

It was unclear Friday how long it might be before the plant begins producing steel again.

Worldwide orders for the flat-rolled steel products the plant makes dried up suddenly last fall. Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, is the world's largest steel maker, shut down the two blast furnaces the plant uses to make steel. Only rolled-steel galvanizing and finishing lines continued operating, though only a fraction of their capacity.
(more)

-------------------------------------------------------------------



Read more: http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2009/03/arcelormittal_cleveland_closes.html

---

I retired out of the railroad down there. Still have friends there.

It's a sad day.

Good-bye Cleveland.

[ogneopasno]

1. Goddamn. We've got this going on in northeastern Minnesota, but some long-term projects just might

carry us through. What a fucking nightmare.

http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/03/05/7143/sudden_painful_iron_range_slump_evokes_talk_of_the_80s

ETA: What did you do on the RR? Mr. Ogneopasno works on the railroad too and is a month in on his engineer training.

[Dr.Phool]

5. I was an Engineer.

31 years.

[ogneopasno]

6. A long time, I salute you.

:patriot:

[democrank]

2. Damn

[OhioChick]

3. Sad. n/t

[aquart]

4. Now there's a plant we should nationalize.

We're going to need steel for our infrastructure repairs.

American steel.