McMinnville's Cascade Steel Rolling Mills is about to embark on its fifth round of layoffs in a little more than a year, President Jeff Dyck confirmed Tuesday in response to a union press release.

Management at the mill, one of the largest employers in Yamhill County, notified the United Steelworkers that it plans to lay off an additional 17 union workers Sunday.

Joe Munger, president of Local 8378, said that will bring the number of union workers who have been laid off since December 2008, and not called back, to 103. He added they lose their recall rights once a full year has passed.

Munger said 71 of Local 8378's members have already lost their right to return. He said five more face that fate in February and another nine in April.

The company has also eliminated several non-union positions, including positions in management. As a result of the succession of layoffs, a workforce that once numbered 550 now is less than 400.

"It was a tough thing to do," Dyck said of the latest round. But he said the mill can't ignore "where the market continues to take us."

He said Cascade and its parent firm, Portland-based Schnitzer Steel, have to be able to respond quickly and effectively whenever demand for steel rebounds. He said they are trying to position themselves that way.

During what turned out to be a very temporary rebound in July and August, the local mill recalled 41 workers.

However, demand quickly began to slump again, forcing new rounds of cuts. The latest came in November, when 30 workers from a range of departments were let go.

Munger, who holds a seat on the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Council, said the cuts exact a very real human toll.

"Every one of these layoffs hurts another hardworking family, and it also hurts the wider economy," he said. "When family-wage jobs are eliminated, there's that much less money for people to spend at local businesses, and a ripple effect is created.

"This is a painful situation for everyone involved. Our members and our community deserve better than this."

Munger blamed the mill's demand problem primarily on the dumping of cheap imports from Third World producers.

"One of the reasons we'll continue to lose jobs across all sectors of the economy in McMinnville, and nationally, is because of imports," he said. "Congress has passed trade policies that force local businesses to compete with companies taking advantage of sweatshop working conditions and lax environmental and safety standards overseas.

"Oregon workers lose out every time in that scenario. Our union is urging members of Congress to support comprehensive reform legislation called the TRADE Act that would finally allow local workers to compete on an even playing field."

Munger said the bill is supported by more than 130 members of the House and several members of the Senate. It would require review and renegotiation of existing agreements and set mandatory standards for future agreements.

Co-sponsors include Oregon's Sen. Jeff Merkley and Reps. David Wu and Peter DeFazio, all Democrats. Allied against them are advocates of free trade, including most Republicans and a goodly number of Democrats.

Munger encouraged community members sharing his point of view to attend one or more of a series of town halls elected representatives are holding in Oregon in the coming days, including a Wyden town hall set for 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Newberg High School Commons.

"The TRADE Act would ensure trade will benefit workers and local communities, creating a Main Street economic recovery that will put our community back to work and promote sustainable economic practices," he argued.

The high school is located at 2400 Douglas Ave. Speakers will be chosen by lot.