Stelco to indefinitely idle Hamilton Works operations, impacting up to 500 employees

Stelco announced its intention on Monday to indefinitely idle its cold-rolled and coated operations at Hamilton Works starting on or around Oct. 9.

The continued market uncertainty is what Stelco says led to this difficult decision that will impact as many as 500 employees at both Hamilton and Lake Erie Works.

In a letter to Stelco employees, the steelmaker says the imposition of 232 tariffs by the United States has caused a major decline in the company’s market for cold-rolled and galvanized goods.

By the second quarter of this year, it says the demand of these products in the markets traditionally serviced by Stelco declined by nearly 25 per cent over the quarter average in 2024.

The steelmaker says this also includes a 10 per cent decline in market demand in Canada as Stelco’s customers and manufacturers of steel products are also being challenged by the trade crisis.

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Despite these challenges, Stelco says it is working to expand its access to markets from coast-to-coast while continuing to work with the government and advocate for trade measures that create a viable domestic market.

The company says the impacted employees will be notified by human resources as operations are wound-down in the coming weeks.

“We are working closely with the leadership of our union locals to ensure we meet our obligations to our employees under our collective agreements,” Stelco tells CHCH News in a statement.

“We will continue to closely monitor developments in trade measures and their impact on domestic market conditions. We will continue to evaluate the status of our operations should conditions improve.”

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