LORAIN, Ohio -- Republic Steel in Lorain announced 200 temporary layoffs of salaried and part time employees. Nearly 600 union workers make their living there.
The plant has been part of the fabric of Lorain, under different names and owners, since 1895.
The steel industry is the bread and butter for so many families in Lorain and the 200 layoffs at Republic Steel comes on the heels of another recent almost 200 layoffs at US Steel.
Families like Nick Matos' have been through this before. "Steel" might as well be the middle name for three generations of the Matos family.
"Growing up I saw how hard my dad worked. He's been a really good role model," said Matos.
Nick's grandfather Joe Matos retired from the plant in 1973. A basket weaver from Yugoslavia who came to the United States and made a living for his family making steel.
Nick's father still works at Republic. He's been there since 1973 and is nearing retirement.
Nick, with just three years under his crane operator belt, woke up this morning thinking he very well may be laid off.
"There's a good chance I will be. I don't have much seniority."
Republic Steel declined a request for an interview with Channel 3, but Paula Dudukovich, Director of Human Resources, issued the following statement shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday:
Republic Steel is reducing our manning levels at our Lorain Hot End Operations due to the declining conditions in the oil and gas markets as well as the reduced demand from our customer. Republic is temporarily laying off approximately 200 hourly and salaried employees. Republic is working with the local USW leadership to minimize the layoffs.
"Been there. Done that," said Matos, whose dad laid off when Nick was young.
"He had to sell a lot of things and get two jobs to support us. My father always told me to be prepared, save as much as you can. When times are good they're really good. When they're bad, they're really bad. So you just have to take the good with the bad."
Local 1104 Union representative, Tom McDermott told Channel 3 reporter Dawn Kendrick there is no way to know when or if these 200 jobs are coming back.
"We hope for the best and plan for the worst," said McDermott.
The union is implementing training now for these workers to maybe find new job or to be better poised to come back to the ones that they hopefully still have.
Ohio Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur issued a statement in response to the news:
"These layoffs are a terrible blow to two hundred workers, their families and the Lorain community. Declining demand, the biggest reason given for these layoffs, often starts with unfair competition from imports of cheaply made foreign competitors. That is why I continue to fight for fair trade with enforceable labor and environmental standards for every U.S. trade agreement, old and new. I have said it many times: our steel workers in Lorain and throughout the country deserve better. And we must do better for them. To do that, we will need to open closed foreign markets and keep investing in manufacturing for long-term U.S. global competitiveness.
Investing in infrastructure using domestically sourced steel is step one. High quality steel, which will last for generations, must be used. Improving the efficiency and self-sufficiency of manufacturing facilities is also a priority that will require upgrades to achieve energy savings, especially as advanced manufacturing revitalizes our domestic production including U.S. Steel. Workforce development and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) must be available to respond to the specific needs of communities and workers laid off by no fault of their own but who find themselves and their families on the brink.
I am encouraged that Republic Steel is working with local USW leadership to minimize this round of layoffs, and that this move is described as temporary. Let us not forget that U.S. Steelworkers have done everything ever asked of them. Their outstanding work ethic built this country. Now our country must fulfill its commitment to them."
