Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.cbc.ca
Layoffs at Hamilton’s Stelco steel plant are underway and expected to roll out over three weeks.
Not all workers have been formally notified, said Ron Wells, president of United Steelworkers Local 1005, which covers Stelco workers in Hamilton. But he said “people have a general idea” of whether or not their job is on the line.
Wells said Wednesday that a batch of layoffs is expected this week, with another the following week and a final group the week after that. One worker, Jordan Williams, told CBC Hamilton that he received his notice on Wednesday, coming into effect Sunday.
In total, Wells expects 300 to 350 layoffs in Hamilton, with more at Stelco’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, which is covered by a different union local.
Wells explained that new rules in Ontario’s Employment Standards Act mean the company doesn’t have to give advance notice of a temporary layoff shorter than 35 weeks, so people could get their notice and be laid off on the same day.
Ron Wells, president of USW Local 1005, says he is ‘disgusted’ by the decision to lay off approximately 350 workers. (Meagan Fitzpatrick/CBC)
“If it becomes permanent, like after 35 weeks, they would have to add those 12 weeks to any severance pay owing,” he told CBC Hamilton, adding that the laid-off workers would retain their medical benefits for the time being.
“People are obviously worried about the future. How you going to pay the bills?… But the overriding emotion is anger,” Wells said. “I think almost all the workers I’ve talked to, they feel that this shutdown and layoff isn’t necessary. There’s a market out there for our product and we’re being used as pawns in a political game.”
Wells believes Stelco owner Cleveland-Cliffs, whose CEO Lourenco Goncalves has expressed support for tariffs and for U.S. President Donald Trump, is eager to make it appear as though Trump’s tariffs are working, ahead of midterm elections in the U.S.
“I hope, basically, the federal government makes an example out of them,” Wells said. “We just want to make sure they … follow through with it.”
Industry Minister Mélanie Joly warned on Monday that Stelco had five business days to share a plan to keep jobs or the government would launch legal action under the Investment Canada Act.
In a previous interview with CBC News, Goncalves defended his right to idle production.
“We had the ability to sell into the United States,” he said at the time. “That was an underlying condition for me to acquire Stelco.
“I would not have acquired the Stelco if I knew that Canada and the United States would become what they became — enemies in trade.”
CBC Hamilton contacted Stelco to ask if the company plans to meet the government’s deadline, but did not hear back.
Local tradespeople eye impact of layoffs, look to help
Wells said that for every unemployed steel worker, there are up to five other jobs that could now be on the line. Bernard Tompkins, who works for a contractor that does equipment maintenance at Stelco, said Wednesday that people who work in various trades are worried.
“Working on site gives me a perspective on how much further the impact can reach beyond the Stelco employees who are directly being laid off,” said Tompkins in an email on Wednesday.
“It’s not just the direct employees — it also affects other building trades, contractors, suppliers, technicians and companies whose work depends on maintaining and supporting those operations.”
Tompkins, a boilermaker who is running for Hamilton council in Ward 2, said his union is looking into creating internship opportunities for some of the displaced Stelco workers “considering the amount of work currently available in [the] trade.
“From what I was told, those kinds of conversations were already taking place,” he said. “I really feel for the workers and families going through this hard time and unfortunately Christmas is just around the corner.”
Job retraining available for 75 laid-off workers
On Tuesday, the federal and provincial governments announced $203,000 toward job retraining for 75 “steel and manufacturing workers,” to be delivered by Learning Connections Hamilton.
“Ontario will deliver the funding through Skills Advance Ontario, which partners with employers and training providers to help workers transition into in-demand careers,” said a release from the province.
“The training will provide participants with skills assessments, individualized training plans, digital skills upgrading, training referrals, case management and support accessing certifications and short-term training required for employment.”
Affected workers can access support through the United Steelworkers Action Centre by calling 905-548-9197 or visiting in person at 1031 Barton St. E.
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said Wednesday that her “Head of Lake Ontario” tariff-response plan will help laid-off Stelco workers by keeping property tax increases below inflation and allowing for emergency tax and fee deferrals for people who can’t pay their city bills.
“When the news on Stelco broke, I immediately called on the federal and provincial governments to push them to save these jobs through negotiation or enforcement, and to immediately release relief funding for impacted workers and their families,” she said in an email statement to CBC Hamilton on Wednesday.
“I can’t control Trump’s actions, but I can control how we respond.”
