Stltoday.com reported that the small group of workers at Granite City Works soon will become even smaller and there is no indication the idled steel mill will reopen soon.

Mr Dave Dowling a local sub district director for United Steelworkers said that United States Steel Corporation, the owner of the Metro East steel operations, which has been idle since December announced layoffs of some remaining workers. He did not know how many workers will be laid off.

Mr Dowling said that "What we've been told by US Steel is that orders for steel continue to be dismal, that there is no indication of resuscitation of the steel market. The plant's startup is dependent on an increase in steel demand and there's no indication we're close to that happening."

Granite City Works makes steel that is used in construction and other industries affected by the economic downturn. When demand fell, US Steel stopped steel production there in December and laid off most of the workers. About 1,600 people were put out of work. Another 390 union and nonunion members were laid off in February. At that time, US Steel idled production of coke.

Officials from USW Local 1899 and Local 50 said that about 200 people have been maintaining operations, and they've been told that at least 17 of those workers will be laid off. The locals represent hourly workers at the Metro East facilities. It's uncertain just when any of the workers will return to work.

(Sourced from www.stltoday.com)