Business · Companies · 7 hrs ago
Stelco to recall 175 laid-off workers at Hamilton plant on Dec. 1
Stelco will recall 175 laid-off workers at its Hamilton, Ontario, steel plant on Dec.
1.
The workers were among those affected after the company’s U.S. owner, Cleveland-Cliffs, announced plans in September to idle some operations and lay off as many as 500 people.
The company cited tariffs, weak demand and imported steel as reasons for the cuts, while the union questioned whether the layoffs were necessary.
Stelco now says increased customer demand and customer commitments will support the Hamilton finishing operations.
The federal government said the layoffs breached commitments Cleveland-Cliffs made when it bought Stelco in 2024, and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had threatened to seek a court order requiring the company to sell the plant.
Stelco says the 175 workers will return on Dec.
1, and the company indicated it would pay them retroactively for the time they were laid off.
Stelco will recall 175 laid-off workers at its Hamilton plant by Dec. 1 as it restarts finishing operations.
The company said customer demand is sufficient and that customers have committed to support the Hamilton operations.
Stelco said the workers will be paid retroactively for wages missed while they were off the job.
The layoffs had prompted a dispute with the federal government over commitments made when U.S. company Cleveland-Cliffs bought Stelco in 2024.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had warned Cleveland-Cliffs it could face legal action or be required to sell Stelco if the workers were not recalled.
- Who
- Stelco is recalling 175 workers who were laid off at its Hamilton plant.
- What
- The company is restarting its Hamilton finishing operations and bringing the workers back.
- When
- The workers are to return by Dec. 1.
- Where
- Stelco’s Hamilton plant in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- Stelco said customers have committed to support the operations and demand for its steel is sufficient.
Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco
Canadian federal government and United Steelworkers Local 1005
Reason for layoffs
Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco
The company cited U.S. tariffs, weak demand and competition from imported steel.
Canadian federal government and United Steelworkers Local 1005
The government challenged the layoffs as a breach of commitments made when Cleveland-Cliffs acquired Stelco; the union questioned whether the layoffs were necessary.
Response to the recall
Cleveland-Cliffs and Stelco
Stelco said customer commitments and sufficient demand allowed it to restart operations.
Canadian federal government and United Steelworkers Local 1005
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly said the government’s enforcement of the law helped bring workers back; union president Ron Wells called the recall a relief.
Cleveland-Cliffs acquired Stelco, with the federal government saying the agreement included commitments to maintain employment levels.
Stelco announced plans to lay off up to 500 workers at plants in Hamilton and Nanticoke.
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly demanded that Cleveland-Cliffs reverse the layoffs or face possible legal action.
Stelco announced it would recall 175 laid-off workers and restart Hamilton finishing operations.
The 175 workers are to return to work.
- Workers recalled
- 175
- Return date
- Dec. 1
- Plant
- Stelco Hamilton Works, Hamilton, Ontario
- Parent company
- Cleveland-Cliffs
- Layoff announcement
- Sept. 28, 2026; up to 500 workers at Hamilton and Nanticoke plants
- Back pay
- Stelco said impacted employees would be compensated retroactively for missed pay
4 sources
What people are saying
Our customers have committed to support our Hamilton finishing operations
We are happy the government held them accountable, enforced the Investment Canada Act, got our members back in a relatively short period of time, and made them whole
This fight was absolutely worth it
We’re also sending a message this is a country of the rule of the law and that applies to everyone.