Canada’s Stelco to recall 175 workers after government pressure
Canadian steelmaker Stelco will recall 175 laid-off workers and provide back pay following government intervention. The move follows a standoff between the Canadian government and the company's US-based owner, Cleveland-Cliffs.
Why it matters
This case demonstrates the Canadian government's willingness to use legal and regulatory pressure to protect domestic jobs against foreign corporate decisions.
Steelmaker promises back pay for workers whose layoffs its US owner blamed on tariffs, weak demand and imports.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Ron Wells and Melanie Joly after Stelco announced it would recall 175 laid off workers in Hamilton, Ontario, November 13, 2026 [Carlos Osorio/Reuters] By Tamara Khandaker Published On 14 Nov 2026 14 Nov 2026 Canadian steelmaker Stelco says it will recall all 175 workers laid off at its plant in Hamilton and pay them retroactively, following a weeks-long standoff that pitted workers and the Canadian government against its owner in the United States.
The announcement on Friday came shortly after Canada’s Industry Minister Melanie Joly said she would seek a court order to force Cleveland-Cliffs to sell Stelco unless she heard from management by the end of the day.
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