Steel Product Producers

Zekelman subsidiary Wheatland Tube set to close Chicago plant

Written by Ethan Bernard

October 1, 2024

Wheatland Tube, a subsidiary of Zekelman Industries, is closing a tube facility in Chicago, with nearly 240 workers being laid off.

An Illinois WARN Notice filed on Sept. 6 showed the first layoff date was scheduled for Nov. 1.

Zekelman Industries said a significant contributing factor for the closing is the “surge” of imported steel conduit from Mexico, according to a statement sent to SMU dated Sept. 25.

“All we ask is for our trade agreements to be enforced,” Barry Zekelman, executive chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries, said in the statement. “Instead, there will be Americans out of work at a company that pays life-sustaining wages and benefits.”

Jennifer Murphy, vice president of HR at Zekelman, said that to the greatest extent possible, the company has offered impacted employees the opportunity to transfer to positions matching their skill sets at other company facilities.

“For employees who are not interested in transferring, or for whom opportunities are not available, we will offer broad transition support inclusive of severance and outplacement services,” she added.

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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