Duluth foundry to lay off 39 workers

The recent slowdown in mining activity in northeastern Minnesota has prompted a foundary to lay off nearly 40 percent of its employees in Duluth.

Minneapolis-based ME Global of Gary-Duluth says it will lay off 39 of its 103 foundary workers. The layoffs are effective next week.

Plant manager Bill Grau says the cuts are the result of reduced demand in the iron ore business. Bruce Lotti is president of United Steelworkers Local 1028. He says workers at the foundary have already seen their hours cut back from 40 per week to 32. However, those remaining after the layoffs will return to a 40-hour work week. Lotti says he's hopeful the workers could be recalled by this fall.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

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