By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – U.S. Steel is shutting down production at plants in Detroit, northern Minnesota, and Granite City, Ill.
A spokesman says the company will consolidate operations at four other of its North American steel mills over the next several weeks.
U.S. Steel says the consolidations are necessary because of the slowing economy and weak demand.
Most of the temporary layoffs are at the plant near St. Louis, which employs more than 2,200 people.
Last month U.S. Steel laid off nearly 700 workers in the United States and Canada.