Liberty Steel is placing staff at its Illinois plant on compulsory leave

Various groups of people are being suspended from work with effect from 13 July

The steel company Liberty Steel is temporarily placing employees at its wire rod production plant in Bartonville (Illinois, USA) on compulsory leave. This has been reported by SMU.

A company spokesperson recently told a local television channel that the majority of the employees affected by this measure work at this particular plant. However, she described the move as temporary.

Around 300 people are employed at the plant in question. However, at that time, the company had yet to determine the number of workers who would be placed on unpaid leave.

Various groups of workers will be taken off the production line for two weeks, starting on 13 July, according to Kallanish, citing a company statement. This is in response to falling demand in the industrial fencing market, against a backdrop of import pressure on local manufacturers.

The Liberty Steel & Wire plant in Bartonville produces billets, wire rod, industrial wire and industrial fencing. In total,
Liberty Steel USA has six production facilities across the country.

It should be noted that in May this year, US steelworks increased shipments of steel products by 6.2% month-on-month – to 8.14 million short tonnes. Compared with the same period last year, this figure rose by 8.5%. Over the first five months, shipments totalled 38.99 million tonnes, up 4.6% year-on-year.