Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.

A WARN notice filed with the Illinois Work Net Center says Cleveland-Cliffs Riverdale LLC will close its plant at 13500 S Perry Ave in Riverdale, Illinois, around June 30, 2025, resulting in the planned layoff of 281 workers. The notice lists 'plant closure' as the reason; the company is described as North America's largest flat-rolled steel producer and iron ore pellet supplier. The article notes the closure is imminent and that workers may be offered opportunities at other locations or the dismissal could be temporary, and refers readers to the company's upcoming quarterly earnings call for possible explanation. The Illinois Work Net Center says this closure brings the total number of workers laid off in the past 30 days in Illinois to 1,156, though that figure is an aggregate and not specific to this plant.

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly has threatened legal action against Cleveland Cliffs Inc., the U.S.-based owner of Hamilton's Stelco, for allegedly breaching commitments tied to its 2024 Investment Canada Act approval. The company last month laid off workers at Stelco, and Joly's letter states that through mid-October approximately 175 union members at Stelco had received layoff notices. Joly also alleges Cleveland Cliffs failed to remain a 'strong advocate' for policies benefiting Canadian steel and did not meet commitments to spend about $2 million annually on community programs. Cleveland Cliffs has denied breaching the agreement through either the layoffs or its lobbying for U.S. tariffs, and the company did not respond to requests for comment.

Stelco, owned by U.S.-based Cleveland-Cliffs, has implemented layoffs at its Hamilton operations tied to broader company cuts intended to be temporary until a Canada-U.S. trade deal. United Steelworkers Local 1005 president Ron Wells said about 90 Hamilton workers were laid off last week and an additional 85 were expected to receive notices this week; Wells had previously cited roughly 333 expected layoffs in Hamilton and more in Nanticoke. Affected departments include the cold rolling section; individual workers report surprise and concerns about seniority decisions. Cleveland-Cliffs maintains the layoffs are lawful and temporary, while federal and Ontario NDP politicians have called for nationalization and the federal government is considering legal action alleging the company broke commitments to maintain employment levels after its 2024 purchase. The union is organizing meetings and rallies and seeking government action to hold the company to its commitments.

Cleveland-Cliffs, owner of Stelco, announced idling of Hamilton finishing operations with roughly 350 Hamilton steelworkers set to be laid off effective Oct. 9, 2026, and said a "significant" number could transfer to its Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke. Union leaders say only about 20 full-time openings exist at Nanticoke and expect 60 to 80 layoffs there, potentially bringing total local job losses close to 450 between Hamilton and Nanticoke. The company said overall tonnage would be maintained with a shift toward hot-rolled production made at Nanticoke; management has not specified how many Hamilton employees will be offered roles in Nanticoke. The cuts are attributed to market pressures including U.S. tariffs affecting demand for cold-rolled and galvanized products, and the union reports reduced pickling-line operations and hiring freezes at Nanticoke.

Cleveland-Cliffs, parent of Stelco, announced temporary layoffs affecting Stelco operations in Hamilton and at the Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ont., citing weak demand, import pressure and an ongoing trade dispute. Stelco had announced plans to lay off up to 500 workers across its Hamilton and Lake Erie facilities; the article states Cleveland-Cliffs is "temporarily laying off 350" workers while also noting about 90 individual notices were being issued in Hamilton and roughly 330 Hamilton workers expected to be affected over three weeks, plus 40-50 possible cuts at Lake Erie. CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the layoffs are temporary and tied to galvanized steel market pressures and that workers would be recalled if a trade deal is reached. The company is preparing submissions to Canada’s Industry Minister about commitments made when Cleveland-Cliffs acquired Stelco in 2024.

The federal Industry Minister says Stelco — owned by Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. — has planned layoffs affecting up to 500 workers at its Hamilton steel plant, and has given the company 15 days to reverse the cuts or face potential legal action that could force a sale of its Canadian operations. The dispute relates to a 2024 agreement requiring minimum employment levels at Cleveland-Cliffs' Canadian operations through 2029, including specific baselines for unionized and non-unionized staff. Cleveland-Cliffs disputes the government's interpretation, saying the commitments do not prohibit layoffs or require maintaining daily headcounts, and asserts financial pressures such as U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel have contributed to the decision. The government warns it could pursue court action if the company does not comply; Cleveland-Cliffs says affected Hamilton workers would be offered positions at its Lake Erie facility.