Steel workers attack ArcelorMittal's Luxembourg headquarters

[Zaz]

LUXEMBOURG (AP) - Steel workers attacked ArcelorMittal's Luxembourg headquarters Tuesday, setting off smoke bombs and trying to break through the front door to protest temporary layoffs during the economic slump.

While the company held its annual shareholders' meeting, some among the 1,000 workers from Belgium and France hurled cobblestones and steel fencing at the building, which riot police lined up to protect.

One protestor broke into the building and between 20 and 30 others fought police at the entrance. Journalists were told to leave the ground floor and go out a back entrance as smoke filled the halls.

The protest did not affect the shareholder meeting or lunch, which continued on the building's upper floor.

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[adam]

supply and demand folks.

[drpgq]

NEW YORK -- Steelmaker ArcelorMittal plans a "mass layoff" at its Indiana Harbor mill in July, according to a company letter made public by the United Steelworkers union Wednesday.

In the letter, posted on USW Local 1011's website, ArcelorMittal said it "has determined that it must substantially reduce the workforce at its Indiana Harbor flat carbon facility."

The company said the purpose of the letter, dated May 12, was to advise the union of "a pending ‘mass layoff"' at the plant in East Chicago, Indiana.

It did not specify how many workers would be affected but said the layoffs would be for an indefinite period after July 12.

There was no immediate comment from ArcelorMittal, which like other steelmakers has recently cut production and idled plants because of the economic downturn.

© Thomson Reuters 2008