AK Steel to Idle Dearborn Furnace and Rockport Works

AK Steel will idle the C blast furnace at Dearborn Works beginning this week for an undetermined period of time. Dearborn has been impacted by recent shutdowns in the automotive industry and has been criticized for its handling of safety measures during the coronavirus crisis. At least one employee at Dearborn has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

UAW Local 600 posted a notice to members on Friday that operations will be idled and commended Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves for “making the decision to put our people’s health and safety first.”