North Jackson steel company sued

Staff report

NORTH JACKSON

A U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit filed Tuesday against a North Jackson steel company alleges the company terminated an employee for reporting unsafe working conditions.

North Jackson Specialty Steel, 2058 S. Bailey Road, is said to have violated the whistle-blower protection provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1960.

The lawsuit seeks restoration of lost pay and benefits, compensatory and punitive damages and compensation for attorney and other fees, according to a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The steel company is a part of Universal Stainless, which is based in Bridgeville, Pa.

The Vindicator could not reach a company representative to comment.

The North Jackson facility produces specialty steels, including nickel alloy, stainless steel and low-alloy steel, according to Universal Stainless’ website.

An unidentified furnace operator purportedly was terminated June 19, 2012 — four days after the employee told the company that a safety feature to control the operating temperature of a furnace was disabled, according to the lawsuit.

The suit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and the department’s Regional Office of the Solicitor in Chicago is litigating the case, according to the release.

The civil case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Benita Y. Pearson in Youngstown.