Stelco to Recall All 175 Laid-Off Hamilton Workers Starting December 1

Canada’s major steel producer Stelco has announced that all 175 workers temporarily laid off from its Hamilton, Ontario, facility will return to work on December 1.

Cleveland-Cliffs confirmed the decision in a press release on Friday. The move comes amid continued pressure from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly, who had warned that the company could be forced to exit its Canadian operations if it failed to maintain employment levels under the agreement made when it acquired Stelco in 2024.

According to Cleveland-Cliffs, operations at the Hamilton Finishing Unit were temporarily suspended on September 28 due to weak demand for its steel products, affecting 175 employees.

However, following increased purchasing commitments from customers, the company has decided to restart operations at the facility.

The company said it may take several weeks for operations to return to full capacity, but all 175 affected workers are being recalled starting December 1.