U.S. Steel announces recall of 200 workers

By Toni Walker | news@steelcountrybee.com

LONE STAR – Thanks to improvements both in the oil industry and overall national economy, life is returning to the once completely-idled U.S. Steel plant. 
U.S. Steel is in the process of a gradual restart of the No. 2 Welded Pipe Mill at our Lone Star Tubular Operations in Lone Star,” said U.S. Steel spokeswoman Meghan Cox. “We expect production to resume in May, and we anticipate recalling approximately 200 employees.”
According to the company’s first-quarter earnings reports, increased rig counts helped fuel the recall. The report stated the increased rig count was related to onshore activity and would directly benefit the Lone Star operation.
According to a report in the Longview News-Journal, U.S. Steel began recalling laid-off workers recently, according to Trey Green, vice president and grievance chairman of Local 4134 of the United Steelworkers in Lone Star.
“They have already started calling small groups,” he said. “The people around here need the jobs, and they need to work. We’ve got people that work here from all over. We have people as far away as Tyler and Arkansas that come to work (at U.S. Steel). We need the jobs here.”
“It’s good for the steelworkers, but it is also good for the surrounding area,” said Lone Star Mayor Karl Stoermer.
He said restarting the plant will help trucking, coating and other industries.
“Indirectly, people will need mechanics and cooks, general hardware stores,” Stoermer said. “It will be good for the whole area.”
The callbacks come after the company’s decision to permanently close the No. 1 electric-weld mill in Lone Star, which came in December.
According to Green, about 30 maintenance workers have remained at the No. 2 plant since its idling.
U.S. Steel stated in its report, “Market conditions have continued to improve and we will realize greater benefits as these improved conditions are recognized more fully in our future results. We are focused on long-term and sustainable improvements in our business model that will position us to continue to be a strong business partner that creates value for our customers.”