Lorain Tubular Operations idled

United States Steel has commenced the indefinite idling of the company’s Lorain Tubular Operations, a company spokeswoman said.

On March 23, the company announced 250 workers would be cut due to the indefinite idling of the steel plant, 2199 E. 28th St., which made pipes used in gas and oil drilling.

The Lorain layoffs began this week in conjunction with other actions to shut down parts of U.S. Steel’s tubular production.

“After further study of current demand, we must make additional adjustments to respond to the sudden and dramatic decline in business conditions resulting from the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic,” said a statement from company spokeswoman Meghan Cox.

In May, the company announced it would continue indefinite idling of the No. 3 Seamless Mill at Lorain Tubular Operations.

The work was expected to be completed by late May.

U.S. Steel announced it would accelerate the previously announced indefinite idlings of the No. 1 and No. 2 Weld Mills and associated heat-treat and finishing operations at the Lone Star Tubular Operations in Texas.

The company also announced it would indefinitely idle the plant’s No. 2 Heat Treat Line, Finishing Line 2, Pipe Main Finishing Line and related supporting departments, which will result in a complete idling of the facility upon conclusion.

The Hughes Springs, Texas, location of Wheeling Machine Products, also was to be idled indefinitely.

The remaining tubular facilities — Fairfield Tubular Operations, Offshore Operations Houston and

Wheeling Machine Products of Pine Bluff, Ark., — will operate at reduced levels in line with current demand and make additional adjustments as needed, according to U.S. Steel plans.

The company issued Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification, or WARN, notices to about 1,300 workers affected by the changes, Cox said.

“This includes both represented and non represented employees,” the company statement said.

“The exact numbers of impacted employees have not yet been finalized, and we anticipate they will be lower in some cases.”