It is reported that more than 125 workers have been put on furlough at the Fairfield Works steel plant west of Birmingham and 1,600 worker plant might be temporarily shut.

Mr Robert Irwin VP of Local 2122 of the United Steelworkers said that at least 125 workers and sometimes more than twice that are kept home each week, with the number escalating since November 2008. He added that slumping demand for Fairfield Works steel that is used to make appliances and building panels is to blame.

He added that "We are concerned we will be the next plant to be shut. Gary Works is the company's flagship operation. Mon Valley is in Pennsylvania, and I don't think US Steel's Pittsburgh executives want 5,000 Steelworkers marching on their headquarters. That leaves us."

Meanwhile, US Steel declined to comment on its staffing levels or the future prospects of the Fairfield Works. It has operated the Fairfield Works for more than 100 years, on the same site where steel has been made for even longer than that.

(Sourced from www.al.com)