Published reports indicate that there will be an eight-week shutdown at the former Stelco plant in order to weather these tough economic times.

U.S. Steel has declined comment, but sources familiar with the plans say it will shutdown its Hamilton blast furnace at the end of the month.

About 17-hundred people are employed by U.S. Steel here in Hamilton, and at this point it's not known if the shutdown will result in any layoffs.

Last month ArcelorMittal Dofasco announced plans to scale back production in the second half of the fiscal year.