Cleveland-Cliffs Recalls 175 Stelco Workers in Hamilton

Cleveland-Cliffs will recall 175 laid-off workers at its Stelco unit in Hamilton, Ontario, on December 1 and restart finishing operations. The company will provide back wages to all recalled employees for the period they were off the job as a gesture of good faith.

Stelco had idled these operations on September 28, citing unsustainable market conditions for cold-rolled and coated products. The decision to restart follows the company securing agreements with a sufficient volume of customers, though the process is expected to take several weeks.

The recall resolves a dispute with the Canadian government regarding job commitments made during the C$3.4 billion acquisition of Stelco in 2024. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Industry Minister Mélanie Joly had previously threatened legal action and fines if the company failed to maintain unionized and salaried headcount levels.

Despite the resolution, Cleveland-Cliffs criticized the Canadian government for failing to address gaps in relief programs intended to offset tariffs. The company noted that offshore galvanized product imports continue to erode the domestic market, which has been further disrupted by U.S. import tariffs under President Donald Trump.