Felman to temporarily idle furnace at W.Va. plant
Felman to temporarily idle furnace at West Virginia plant, lay off union workers
NEW HAVEN, W.Va. (AP) -- Felman Production LLC plans to temporarily idle one of three electric arc furnaces at its ferroalloys plant in New Haven and lay off union workers.
The company says in a news release that several management and contract positions already have been eliminated.
Felman attributes the cuts to a decline in silicomanganese prices and increasing manufacturing costs. The company says the furnace could remain shut down until market conditions improve.
The furnace will be idled on May 31 and layoffs will begin June 3. Felman didn't say how many workers will be laid off.
The plant employs more than 200 members of the United Steelworkers. The company and the union agreed on a new 42-month contract in January.
Felman is a subsidiary of Miami-based Georgian American Allows Inc.
