Latest round of layoffs pummels steel plant

GRANITE CITY -- The company that laid off 1,600 steel workers when it idled its Granite City plant in December says it's handing out pink slips to most of those who remained on the job.

United States Steel Corp. spokesman John Armstrong says the majority of the nearly 400 workers still at the Granite City Works plant will be laid off within the next three weeks.

The Pittsburgh-based company announced in December that its idling the plant because of a drop-off in steel demand. Armstrong says that demand continues to slip.

United Steelworkers of America Local 50 President Jason Chism calls the latest layoffs "a devastating blow to an already bad situation."

It's unclear how soon the plant may reopen.