Coke plant jobs safe despite downturn

WARREN — The jobs of union workers appear safe even though a Warren coke plant is cutting production because of the downturn in the economy, a union leader said.

ArcelorMittal started slowing production at the Main Street plant last week and will eventually be producing about 30 percent less coke that it had been, said Bill Prejsnar, unit president of United Steelworkers of America Local 1375.

He said the plant still will need its 126 hourly workers because all of the coke ovens will continue to operate. If the ovens in the plant are shut down, the bricks will collapse.

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