Alton Steel dismisses 88 employees

Alton Steel, Inc. (ASI), located in the heart of America, manufactures carbon and alloy steel products for the construction, automotive, fastener and hardware industries. Recently, however, the situation at the metallurgical plant has worsened due to the fall in prices on the world steel market, so 88 workers involved in the smelter and the production of fittings will be fired.

As a result, in the smelter, which typically operates in two shifts, work will be reduced to one, one worker said. The production of fittings from three shifts has now switched to two. An Alton Steel employee, despite regretting the layoffs, said, "They are doing what they have to do to keep the company going."

According to the Alton Steel website, the company has 300 administrative employees who may face layoffs in the future. However, the layoffs are not affecting maintenance workers to cut costs for outsourced contractors. These developments come as US Steel is announcing its plans to idle at Granite City Steel in May. Here, all 2,080 employees will be unemployed indefinitely.


US Steel believes there is a global impact on the steel market that is driving down steel prices, and unfair trade and oil price volatility have hit businesses hard. Therefore, companies are trying to keep up with demand by cutting supplies.