[omro]

This doesn't bode well. I'm still surprised that the provincial/federal governments haven't visibly done more. Nationalisation?

U.S. Steel shipping supplies south

Raw materials going to American plants
April 16, 2009
Naomi Powell
The Hamilton Spectator
(Apr 16, 2009)

U.S. Steel is shipping raw materials out of its mothballed Hamilton plant to be turned into steel elsewhere.

The firm has been loading materials onto ships in Hamilton Harbour for delivery to its active plants in Gary, Ind., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Fairfield, Ala.

U.S. Steel concentrated production at those three American sites after temporarily closing plants in Hamilton and Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke.

"Our ongoing efforts to consolidate production includes raw materials and other resources from our temporarily idled facilities," said U.S. Steel spokesperson Courtney Boone, who declined to comment on any specific moves.

All steelmaking was halted at both Lake Erie Works and Hamilton Steel after the last steel coil was finished in Hamilton two weeks ago.

Following layoffs this weekend, about 250 workers will remain in Hamilton, said Rolf Gerstenberger, president of the United Steelworkers union at the plant. The workforce will eventually be reduced to a skeleton crew of 150 people primarily responsible for maintenance and security at the plant.

U.S. Steel is laying off a total of 2,190 employees in Hamilton and Nanticoke.