By Carol Wersich, Evansville Courier & Press
ROCKPORT - AK Steel in Rockport has informed UAW Local 3044 it will idle nearly all production at the Rockport Works facility for the upcoming week, resulting in the layoff of approximately 145 hourly workers, according to union leaders.
Some workers should begin to return the following week, according to Rick Ditto, the union's president, and Chuck Billings, the union's vice president.
Alan McCoy, vice president for government and public relations at AK Steel's Ohio headquarters, said company officials informed the union that 116 hourly workers would be affected, starting with the work week which begins Sunday.
Some workers not affected by the layoffs in the coming week may be idled the following week, McCoy said.
According to the union, the union agreed last November to reduce hours and change schedules in an effort to try to preserve jobs and help the company remain competitive.
There were idle times in November through February at the rate of at least one week per month in most production areas, said Ditto.
"March was somewhat more stable, but we still averaged three to 10 people on layoff status in every week except one."
The schedule and hours reduction for most employees equals a 10-15% reduction in wages, Ditto said.
"We are all appreciative right now to be employed, but nerves are really on edge.
"It is truly a sign of the times when the world's most productive steel finishing mill is operating in the manner which we have seen over the past few months," said Ditto.
The UAW Local 3004 includes about 190 production employees at Rockport's AK Steel.