U.S. Steel East Chicago Tin Plant Idling to Extend for an Indefinite Period

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Pittsburgh-based leading steel maker U.S. Steel has provided updates with regards to employment losses on account of its planned shutdown of its East Chicago Tin facility in East Chicago, Indiana. The details were outlined in a recent notice issued to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

In the letter, U.S. Steel noted that the indefinite idling of operations at the East Chicago Tin facility is on account of the company's decision to consolidate its tin mill products production from three facilities to two, owing to high levels of low-priced tin mill products entering the country.

The notice further states that the idling is likely to affect all units, divisions and departments of the facility. The idling will not be permanent in nature, but is likely to extend for an indefinite period. The employment losses resulting from the idling will commence on November 9, 2019 and will continue periodically through the end of December this year.

According to U.S. Steel, the total number of employees who will experience employment losses are expected to be less than 150. However, the exact number will be arrived at after discussions with the United Steelworkers. In total, it expects the action to displace 307 workers. Out of this, it expects to transfer nearly 150 workers to its other tin mill operations in Gary Works and the Midwest plant in Portage.

The indefinite idling of the plant is expected to displace 98 utility technicians, 78 maintenance technicians, 53 utility persons and 49 operating technicians. It will also affect other categories of employees including quality assurance engineers, managers, clerks etc.