Stelco to recall 175 workers laid off in Hamilton - Toronto Star

The company said Friday it has received interest from customers demanding more products.

The Stelco plant in Hamilton, Ontario, pictured in this file photo.

Stelco announced Friday that it will recall 175 workers after finding enough demand and interest from its customers. 

The restart of the Hamilton finishing operations will take several weeks, and the workers will be formally brought back to work on Dec. 1.

”Stelco has been in constant communication with our valued customers who have expressed great interest in working with Stelco and a desire for us to provide them with the high-quality products our Hamilton finishing facility is known for producing,” a company announcement read.

Stelco added that the customer commitment was secured against a backdrop of federal inaction to address shortcomings in its tariff response program and a continued flood of offshore imports of galvanized steel products that have eroded the domestic market.

In late October, Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly gave Stelco’s parent company, Cleveland-Cliffs, formal notice that it has 15 days to undo layoffs, provide hard evidence to justify them, or wind up in court.

Estella Ren is a Toronto-based business reporter for the Star. Reach her via email: eren@thestar.ca