Posted Mar 3, 2009, 8:39 PM
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It's Hammer Time
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 20,304
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US STEEL SHUTTING DOWN CANADIAN OPERATIONS
March 03, 2009
BY NAOMI POWELL
Hamilton Spectator
U.S. Steel Canada is completely shutting down in Hamilton and will close most of its Lake Erie operations, the Spectator has learned. The move is believed to be temporary and driven by slumping demand in the steel sector.
Union leaders say they were notified of the plan by company officials at about 3 p.m.
"It's devastating for the community," said Bill Ferguson, leader of the United Steelworkers union in Lake Erie. "For the local people this will be quite a blow. This plant, Lake Erie, has never shut down in its history."
The move that could affect 2,100 workers although the precise total is not yet known.
The company has already laid off close to 700 workers of 1,700 hourly staff in Hamilton, where it shut down its blast furnace in November. The company plans to keep the coke ovens in Lake Erie active, Ferguson says.
The company is slated to make a formal announcement at 5 p.m.
Check back with thespec.com for updates of this story
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