Steel Mills
Layoffs to begin Christmas Week at AK Steel Ashland Works
Written by Sandy Williams
December 15, 2015
AK Steel plans to begin layoffs at its plant in Ashland, Ky., during the week of Christmas.
Scott Conley, President of USW Local 1865 said 615 to 620 people will be laid off and everyone should be out of the hot end of the plant by December 31.
AK Steel executives blame the layoffs on unfairly traded imports of carbon steel that have reduced order rates, production rates, shipment volumes and selling prices. Production will resume when market conditions improve, but that could be as long as six months.
Ashland Works employs 940 workers and not all will be laid off. In its initial announcement of the production cuts, AK Steel said it did not intend to idle the hot-dip galvanizing line that services automotive customers.
Sandy Williams
Read more from Sandy WilliamsLatest in Steel Mills
Trump approves Nippon-U.S. Steel deal, USW cries foul
President Trump has approved the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, according to an executive order signed on Friday, June 13. Both the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker and the Japanese steelmaker cheered the development.
Nippon exec responds after Trump ‘golden share’ comments: Report
A Nippon executive has hit back regarding the deal for USS following President Trump's talk of a "golden share" on Thursday.
Trump says US government to control 51% share in USS
President Trump says the US government will hold a 51% stake in U.S. Steel after the Nippon deal.
ArcelorMittal plans wire-drawing closure in Hamilton, shifts production to Montreal
ArcelorMittal’s (AM) Hamilton location to be shuttered, wire production shifting to Montreal.
USS, Nippon Steel quiet as litigation deadline approaches
There has been little word from U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel, or the White House since President Trump endorsed the companies’ “partnership” on social media and celebrated it at the May 30 rally outside Pittsburgh.