It is reported that workers at Lakeside Steel face another one week shutdown at the end of this month.

Mr Rick Alakas president of Canadian Auto Workers Local 523 said that "We are very disappointed, but it is something the company is telling us that it needs to do. We are caught up in the same market conditions facing everyone else. We are holding steady at one shift in each mill."

Lakeside Steel provides drill pipe to the oil and gas industry. Contracts are largely determined by the amount of exploration taking place in that industry. Exploration activity has been falling in direct proportion to the price of oil.

Mr Alakas said that "We are waiting for a return of the mining and automotive markets. If we can just get through this downturn, I am confident we will come out the other side in a strong position to go forward. It's something that we are looking at. It is an option we will be bringing to our members."

Mr Joe Buote president of United Steelworkers of America Local 455 said that Henniges Automotive is operating with about 290 employees. Last summer the plant employed about 750 workers. He added that it has been calling back a few workers each week following a one week shutdown earlier this month.

(Sourced from www.wellandtribune.ca)