The Sparrows Point steel mill in Baltimore County is offering temporary, voluntary layoffs to "a small number of its employees," said company spokeswoman Elizabeth "Bette" Kovach. She would not give a specific number of layoffs but said the company is still accepting volunteers. Russian steelmaker Severstal, which bought Sparrows Point in 2008, has been looking for ways to cut costs as its U.S. operations have dragged down earnings. The union that represents 2,500 employees at the plant received a draft proposal in the fall from Severstal detailing a restructuring that could impact as many as one-third of the jobs at the plant. No timeline was given for the restructuring, which would have to be negotiated with the union.

- Andrea K. Walker