AK Steel is considering idling some operations at an eastern Kentucky plant and laying off hundreds of workers because of competition from imported steel.
The company on Friday said it intends to temporarily shut down the blast furnace and related steelmaking operations at its Ashland plant, which has 940 workers.
The steel from the plant in northeastern Kentucky near the West Virginia border is primarily sold to auto manufacturers.
The company says it is petitioning the International Trade Commission “in an attempt to combat these foreign imports.”
The notice given to workers on Friday is required by federal law 60 days ahead of layoffs. The release from AK Steel did not say how many workers at the plant would be affected.
The company says it will continue to operate its hot-dip galvanizing line at the Kentucky plant.
The potential layoffs in Kentucky are landing a week after U.S. Steel Corporation proposed layoffs of 2,000 workers at its plant in Granite City in southern Illinois. The Pittsburgh-based company also cited foreign competition for its struggles.
Source: AP
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