Constellium aluminum mill in West Virginia cuts workforce due to pandemic

Constellium's aluminum mill in Ravenswood, West Virginia, will continue to operate with a reduced workforce of about 900 employees who are not affected by a recently announced temporary workforce reduction implemented in response to coronavirus pandemic-related market conditions, a company spokeswoman told S&P Global Platts Wednesday.

Constellium said Monday it would conduct a temporary layoff of its hourly workforce at the Ravenswood facility on or about June 1 due to "unforeseeable business circumstances," according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice filed with West Virginia's Department of Commerce.

"It is anticipated that this temporary layoff will consist of 175 hourly workers and will last through July 30," Constellium Senior Labor Relations Manager Mathew King said in the notice. "Temporary and permanent layoffs of 70-75 salaried workers will also be implemented and will take place on or about May 18."

King said many of Constellium's customers have had to cancel, delay or reduce orders from the company due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic.

In a separate statement, Ravenswood CEO Buddy Stemple said Constellium was forced to respond to the curtailment of its customers' operations.

"Our major markets of aerospace, automotive and transportation have all been severely impacted by the pandemic," he said.

Constellium expects the temporary layoffs at the facility to last fewer than six months and impact less than 500 workers, or 33% of the plant's total workforce, King said.

The Ravenswood plant employs over 1,100 employees and is one of the world's largest rolled aluminum products facilities, according to Constellium's website. The facility produces plate, sheet and coil for aerospace, defense, transportation, marine and other industrial applications.

Constellium's spokeswoman declined to specify the amount of capacity that would be taken offline during the layoff.