News reports late Tuesday indicated that RG Steel has informed the State of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation that approximately 720 workers at its recently restarted Sparrows Point flat-rolled steel mill will be furloughed until at least March 4.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, last Thursday, some Sparrows Point workers were told not to return to work the following week as RG Steel begins a "cash conservation" move. The "L" blast furnace at the mill has been idled as well as all hot-melting operations. Some finishing operations are said to still be in effect.
Additionally, there are rumblings that nearly all of the over 2,000 steel plant workers could be furloughed down the line.