400 Evraz workers relieved as layoffs avoided; rail cars have arrived

REGINA - Four hundred workers at Regina's Evraz steel plant are breathing a sigh of relief.

The United Steelworkers Union, which represents Evraz employees, confirms that the temporary layoffs expected this week have been avoided.

Sonny Rioux, chief representative for Local 5890, says the company told them last week that Evraz is rescinding the layoff notices because they are receiving a sufficient amount of rail cars now.

Employees were told earlier this month that temporary layoffs could start as early as this week.

At the time the company was dealing with an over-stock of steel tubes due to backlogs on exports by rail.

The steel manufacturer was just one in a long list of industries that have been experiencing bottlenecks on rail exports.

“People are very relieved and hopefully now it’s business as usual,” Rioux said.

(CJME)