The Sault Star reported that Tenaris Algoma Tubes Inc, with 190 hourly production and maintenance workers already on indefinite layoff, will put the vast majority of its remaining 280 member unionized workforce on 6 week layoff this weekend due to deteriorating market conditions.

The recall date for the more than 450 hourly workers, represented by United Steelworker Local 9548, is May 4th 2009. More than 130 tube mill employees have been off the job for more than two months. Tenaris Algoma's 130 non unionized salaried staff will remain on the job during the shutdown.

Essar Algoma Steel Inc currently has 311 hourly production, maintenance, service and clerical staff, all members of USW Local 2251, on indefinite layoff because of a global recession which has severely cut into steel demand. More than 100 Essar workers are into their second month of unemployment.

Mr Mike DaPrat president of Local 2251, with about 2,500 members inside Essar Algoma, said that "These are hard times. The membership is anxious and concerned about what the future holds but nobody has a crystal ball. We have rode out significantly higher layoffs in past but never a global economic collapse like we are experiencing today."

(Sourced from www.saultstar.com)