BNamericas reported that Usiminas has put off firing 400 workers at its Ipatinga plant in Minas Gerais state for 30 days.

Mr Luiz Carlos Miranda president of Ipatinga metalworkers union Sindipa said that "We signed an agreement with Usiminas whereby dismissals have been suspended for 30 days as of June 5th 2009. If the crisis persists and if there really is a need for adjustments in personnel Usiminas will contact us for another meeting to outline dismissal criteria."

Mr Miranda said that the union has seven days to present Usiminas a list of employees who it considers were unfairly released after the steelmaker presented a volunteer dismissal program.

(Sourced from www.bnamericas.com)