Evraz lays off 18 Regina workers

Steelmaker Evraz North America has laid off 18 workers from its Regina operation.

“Like other producers, we are facing economic challenges from excessive imports and the sharp downturn in oil prices,” spokeswoman Melodie Ruse said in an email Friday.

Mike Day, president of United Steelworkers Local 5890, which represents the local workers, said 10 of the layoffs were effective Jan. 31 and eight on Feb. 17. Of the 18 workers, 12 are in recallable positions and the others are probationary employees without recall rights.

Ruse said the firm “will continue to closely monitor the market and make production adjustments accordingly.”

The North American arm of the steelmaker this week said it’s idling its facility in Portland, Ore., that makes large-diameter pipe, and indefinitely laying off 230 workers, effective April 9.

The Portland Oregonian newspaper said Evraz blamed falling energy prices, plus the presence in the market of pipe manufactured in other countries and imported into the U.S., import duties on American pipe shipped to Mexico, and delays on regulatory approval for pipelines in the U.S. and Canada.

There was nobody available to comment Friday morning from the United Steelworkers union, which represents Regina Evraz workers.