Layoff notices mailed out at AK Steel
ASHLAND -- The first round of layoff notices affecting 545 employees at the AK Steel plant in Ashland have been sent out, and 100 more pink slips could be in the mail this week, a union official said Monday.
That will leave only about 35 to 40 union workers on the job through the rest of the year, said Mike Hewlitt, president of United Steelworkers of America Local 1865. Hewlitt said Monday.
While the laid-off workers will get a paycheck Thursday, and one more for two days of holiday pay they didn't work, they can't file for unemployment until Dec. 9, he said. The employees eligible for sub-pay from the company can't get those payments until after they get unemployment checks, Hewlitt said.
Bobby Lintz, a union trustee who has worked at the steel plant for eight years, was among those getting a layoff notice.
"They're saying it's temporary," said Lintz, a Franklin Furnace, Ohio, resident. "Regardless of what they say, there's always worry. You have doubts, especially with the economy. If they help out the Big Three (automakers), it will help the steel industry since we're a supplier."
Lintz, who has two children under the age of 5, says the family has cut back on Christmas this year. "It's going to be tougher. There's a two-week delay on unemployment."
He isn't looking for another job because he hopes to be called back to work at the steel plant.
Hewlitt said steelworkers can sign up for unemployment on line or stop by the union hall at 732 Carter Ave. or the career development center at 2822 Greenup Ave. in Ashland.
The company announced plans earlier this month to put the Amanda blast furnace on hot idle. A company spokesman said the layoffs could be temporary and workers could be called to work in January. Much of the work of tending the blast furnace during the shutdown will be done with salaried employees, something that concerns Hewlitt.
"Salaried people can't do our job under the contract," he said. "We want a plant to come back to. Can we get the plant back up is a question. If they use a fire watch, we could have 85 to 100 union people still working."
Hewlitt, who has worked at the plant for 40 years, thus far has been among those spared a pink slip. If the company idles the number 3 line, he expects to get a layoff notice, too.
A second round of layoff notices to 100 workers could be coming this week, he said.
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