AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT NEENAH FOUNDRY

Neenah, Wisconsin-based Neenah Foundry, a manufacturer of cast iron manhole covers, gratings, and similar cast items for a variety of industries and municipalities, has announced a reduction in headcount,''

The decision to reduce the company's headcount will impact 115 employees, including 7 members of the corporate staff, 4 production supervisors, and 104 unionized production workers. Separations are scheduled for September 27, 2022.

The decision was driven by a "previously announced divestiture of certain heavy truck part sales and manufacturing by the company."

"Neenah Enterprises announced it has completed the sale of NEI’s Advanced Cast Products business in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and the heavy truck business of Neenah Foundry to Southfield, Michigan-based Grede, a leading manufacturer of cast, machined, and assembled components for transportation and industrial markets.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT CENTURY ALUMINUM

Chicago, Illinois-based Century Aluminum Company, a producer of primary aluminum, including standard grade and value-added primary aluminum products, has announced that the company will curtail its Hawesville, Kentucky smelter operations for 9-12 months.

The curtailment will impact 628 employees with layoffs scheduled between August 5, 2022, and August 12, 2022. Employees will "prepare the facility for a restart when energy prices stabilize."

"Century is one of just a handful of aluminum smelters left in the United States and the only high-purity smelter in the world. Hawesville is Century’s largest U.S. smelter and is the largest producer of high-purity primary aluminum in North America. Four of Hawesville’s five potlines are capable of producing high-purity aluminum, which supports the United States’ national security efforts and is used in defense applications such as the F16, Airbus, Naval war vessels, 747 airplanes and the International Space Station."

"In order to continue to operate its smelter located in Hawesville, Kentucky, Century Aluminum of Kentucky GP must be able to purchase reliable, affordable electric power. Unfortunately, an unprecedented rise in global energy prices arising from the Russian war in Ukraine has dramatically increased the price of energy in the U.S. and around the globe. The cost required to run our Hawesville, KY, facility has more than tripled the historical average in a very short period. Given these circumstances it is necessary to fully curtail operations for a period of approximately nine to twelve months at Hawesville until energy prices return to more normalized levels. This is expected to result in the layoff of 628 Hawesville Smelter employees."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SPECIAL METALS (01/14/22)

JANUARY 14, 2022 — COMPANY REVERSES POSITION ON LAYOFFS

The 75 bar and wire department employees who received layoff notices are being told they could return to their jobs once the strike is over and would not be laid off. No further explanation was given for the company’s sudden reversal making it appear to be a ploy to force negotiations as the strike moved beyond 3 months.

JANUARY 13, 2022 — Original post…

New Hartford, New York-based Special Metals Corporation, a supplier of specialty metals and refractory alloys, has announced the planned discontinuation of small rod and wire operations at its Huntington facility in Huntington, West Virginia.

The discontinuation of operations will impact 75 employees and is scheduled to occur on February 7, 2022.

The union representing plant employees has been bargaining with the company over such issues as safety, length of time for temporary job assignments, vacation time, and health care, since October 2021. A federal mediator is assisting with the negotiations.

It is unknown if this is a negotiating ploy or the impacted employees will be included in the negotiations to save their jobs.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?