ArcelorMittal idles another plant in the US and lays off 400

Close on the heels of stopping production at its Cleveland plant in the US and laying off 700 workers last month, (See: ArcelorMittal to idle Cleveland plant; lay off 700 workers)  the world's biggest steel maker ArcelorMittal now plans to idle the Indiana plant and lay off about 400 workers as the demand for the metal plunges globally.

ArcelorMittal will be indefinitely idling steel bar operations at the Indiana Harbor Long Carbon facility in East Chicago, which will result in the steel maker laying off about  400 union and non-union employees, or 8 per cent of the Indiana Harbor plant's workforce.

The world's largest steel maker said that due to a global plunge in demand for steel, the company is forced to indefinitely idle its electric furnace and 12-inch bar mill at Indiana Harbor Long Carbon facility in East Chicago and layoff workers.

The company said in a statement that "This indefinite closure and corresponding layoffs reflect measures the company is being forced to take around the world to adapt to the market's situation."

The steel maker says it has informed the United Steel Workers union of its decision and the layoffs are expected to start in June.

The electric furnace and 12-inch bar mill that will be idled, makes structural steel used in buildings, bridges and railroad tracks. ArcelorMittal employs about 5,000 people at the Indiana Harbor plants.