The Timken Company (USA; NYSE: TKR) is reportedly set to temporarily lay off 200 to 300 workers across its Canton, Ohio bearing and steel production facilities for two weeks, starting today.

The Canton bearing plant has been hurt by the dramatic auto industry slowdown and a general economic contraction impacting industrial bearings.

Timken said these short-term layoffs should be considered generally seasonal in nature; not a layoff per se, but a temporary "workforce adjustment." Workers will be entitled to file state unemployment compensation for the additional days out of work not covered by a union-backed wage fulfillment program.

An extended holiday shutdown for Timken is largely a reflection of its customers' plans for the extended holiday shutdowns this year. The company has had two official shutdown periods in 2008, over the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving holidays.