The AK Steel union president said the rumors are untrue that staffing at the mill has become an issue because so many employees have contracted COVID-19.

Jim Panei, president of United Auto Workers Local 3303, said while he has been on vacation for two weeks, he is aware of fewer than five cases of COVID-19 among employees at the Butler Works.

He said some workers are in quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19, but those cases are few as well.

Panei said Cleveland-Cliffs, the company that owns AK Steel, has provided COVID-19 information on bulletin boards at the mill as well as through the internal e-mail system.

Panei, in his capacity as union president, has disseminated mass emails to union employees containing information on the spread of COVID-19.

“In the plant, (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines are followed,” he said.

Social distancing and maximum occupancies are in place in areas of the mill where employees congregate, such as lunchrooms and locker rooms, Panei said.

Regarding masks, employees are to wear them when working in close proximity to their coworkers, but he is not sure everyone is following that protocol.

He said the sweat produced by working near 3,000-degree heat sources causes masks to soak and disintegrate.

“It's a tough situation for the guys in the mill, but I think they do a pretty good job trying to stay safe,” Panei said.

He said steel production has not been affected at the Butler Works in the face of the latest COVID-19 spike.

“I'm not worried,” Panei said. “Obviously, there's a little bit more (of the virus) than it was a while ago, but it seems to be picking up everywhere.”