USW: ArcelorMittal Georgetown production shutdown complete

The halt of production at ArcelorMittal's Georgetown, South Carolina wire rod mill is now complete, according to United Steelworkers (USW) union reports to local press.

Employees in the production department will remain on the job until at least July 12, as per federal law which requires the plant to remain open for 60 days following a notification of the closure to workers. However, some workers will remain at the plant to ship inventory for as long as supplies last, said union president James Sanderson.

The indefinite closure of ArcelorMittal Georgetown is result of both a downturn in steel demand as well as the rejection by the plant's union workers of a proposal from management to continue operating the plant, but at reduced pay and hours.