Honeywell Officials have temporarily closed its Metropolis plant due to equipment damage.
Plant spokesman Peter Dalpe says the company acted out of an abundance of caution while it conducts a thorough inspection of the facility. Dalpe says the plant was scheduled for a temporary shut down for annual maintenance on Saturday.
The United Steelworkers claim the 230 workers Thursday were evacuated and that managers were investigating claims of sabotage. Dalpe denies that claim saying it would be irresponsible for anyone to presume the cause of the damage until a complete investigation. Local USW president Darrell Lillie says workers are awaiting more information from Honeywell.