STEUBENVILLE - Some 175 workers at RG Steel coke plant in Follansbee have been laid off, United Steelworkers of America Local 1190 President Ernie Gambellin said early today.
Gambellin said the workers were furloughed at the Mountain State Carbon coke plant, a joint venture between bankrupt RG Steel and Severstal NA. Three batteries in what's referred to as the "old block" at the coke plant were hot-idled last week, a process that Gambellin previously said means they can be restarted when and if conditions warrant.
"We had 400 employees this past week, we'll be going down to 225 at the coke plant," Gambellin said. "And on the Ohio side, it looks like we'll go from 67 to 31 workers."
RG Steel sought protection from its creditors on May 31. Despite the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, Gambellin said the newly laid-off workers are entitled to sub-pay.
