US Steel Announces Consolidation of Flat-Rolled Operations

United States Steel Corporation(NYSE: X) announced today it will consolidate its North American Flat-Rolledoperations and temporarily idle its Granite City Works operations in GraniteCity, Ill. As the primary flat-roll supplier of Lone Star Tubular Operations,the consolidation is part of an on-going adjustment of steelmaking operationsthroughout North America to match customer demands. The company routinely adjusts production at its operating facilities toreflect market fluctuations. The consolidation is a result of challengingmarket conditions that reflect the cyclical nature of the industry. Globalinfluences in the market like reduced steel prices, unfair trade, imports andfluctuating oil prices, continue to have an impact on the business. Thecompany will be working closely with its customers through thisconsolidation. The company will continue to operate its steelmakingoperations in Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania. As part of the consolidation, 2,080 employees at Granite City Works are beingissued notices under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN)Act. These notices are separate from the notices related to the permanentshutdown of Granite City Works' coke making facility.