Marston, Missouri-based Magnitude 7 Metals, one of nation’s only primary aluminum smelters producing one-fifth of the nation’s aluminum production, has announced it would curtail operations and close its Marston smelter due to conditions that were not reasonably foreseeable.
The closure will impact 450 unionized employees.
According to published reports, the company will continue looking for investment capital and look for ways to restart the smelter in the future.
It should be noted that part of the decision may have been environmental concerns as the smelter was operating under a consent decree involving sulfur dioxide pollution which leads to health-threatening "acid rain." Additionally, management noted, "Due to abnormally cold weather, our operations have been severely impaired to the point where they cannot be restored while running."
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?