Steel Mills

ArcelorMittal to Idle Indiana Harbor #3 BF
Written by Sandy Williams
April 9, 2020
ArcelorMittal plans to idle the #3 blast furnace at Indiana Harbor in East Chicago, according to a report by the Northwest Indiana Times. A memo from USW Local 1010 President Steve Wagner to members stated that the company “has mandated that all employees with less than two years be laid off.”
“This is not in line with the collective bargaining agreement. Our interpretation is that the company must offer voluntary layoffs before anybody is involuntarily laid off,” said Wagner.
ArcelorMittal, like other steel mills in the U.S. and globally, has struggled with waning demand due to the COVID-19 crisis and the downturn in oil and gas.
This is the most recent status of blast furnaces at ArcelorMittal USA:
ArcelorMittal USA did not respond to SMU’s request for further comment.

Sandy Williams
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