More layoffs at Keewatin taconite plant
U.S. Steel has announced another round of layoffs at its Keetac taconite plant in the small town of Keewatin, Minn.
More than 400 workers lost their jobs earlier this year when U.S. Steel idled its Keewatin facility, but many of those workers were called back over the summer for maintenance.
Keewatin Mayor Bill King says crews were hard at work last week winterizing the idled facility.
Now the company has warned another 210 workers they'll be out of a job next month.
U.S. Steel officials blame the slumping steel market for the layoffs. In a statement, U.S. Steel said the cuts are part of a nationwide restructuring of steel-making operations, forced by falling prices, which the company blames in part on illegal dumping of foreign steel.
The layoffs will begin Oct. 11.
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