It is reported that days before Christmas in 2008, officials at Gerdau Mac Steel alerted employees of a massive layoff to begin in January 2009. Now, according to the union, another Christmas will pass before production begins again for those 300 workers.

Mr Charles Crowley president of United Steel Workers of America Local 8339 said that many workers had been collecting unemployment as they awaited the call back to work, but he said Wednesday his co workers should make other plans. He added that "It's time to get yourself signed up for college and get out and look for a job because it's not going to be anytime soon."

Mr Santiago Fittipaldi spokesman of Mac Steel said that "The company's intention is still to reopen the Jackson plant in the future, though no date has yet been set. The date will be determined by market conditions and customer demand."

Mr Crowley was part of a small group of union leaders who met with management. Management also met with salaried employees earlier that day. He added that "They said basically they're going to start winterizing the plant. That means they are not starting the plant any time this year or this winter."

(Sourced from www.mlive.com)