Republic Steel announces 200 temporary layoffs at Ohio plant, cites steel dumping, demand

Republic Steel has announced it is temporarily laying off 200 workers from its Lorain plant in northeastern Ohio.

The Morning Journal (http://bit.ly/1CdhEmO ) reports the layoffs, affecting hourly and salaried employees, were announced Wednesday.

The paper says Paula Dudukovich, Republic Steel's director of human resources, blamed the layoffs on declining conditions in the oil and gas markets and reduced demand.

The Republic Steel mill makes special bar quality steel used in axles, drive trains, suspensions and other parts of cars and off-road vehicles.

It also supplies United States Steel Corp.'s Lorain Tubular Operations, which has been idled for three months.

Tom McDermott, president of Local 1104, says the plant is being hurt by foreign companies dumping cheap steel in the country.

It's unclear how long the layoffs will last.

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Information from: The Morning Journal, http://www.morningjournal.com