Cleveland-Cliffs Plans Cuts of 500 Jobs at Stelco Sites in Ontario

Cleveland-Cliffs Plans Reductions at Stelco Sites

Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. said up to 500 workers across its Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario facilities could be affected by cuts, according to reporting by Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca and BNN Bloomberg. The announcement was tied to developments within the company’s Stelco operations and was reported in the Materials sector for the period October 7–October 8, 2026.

Federal officials in Ottawa have given Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. five business days to explain how it will honor commitments made when it acquired Stelco in 2024, the reports say. Those commitments included promises to maintain all unionized jobs and most non-union roles after the takeover, per the coverage by the named outlets.

Union representatives, as described in the media reports, say roughly 350 of the potentially affected workers are based in Hamilton and contend only about 40 Hamilton employees have been offered positions in Nanticoke. The company cited cross-border trade tensions — specifically a Canada–U.S. trade dispute and U.S. tariffs — as reasons for the proposed reductions, the reporting states. Ottawa has signaled the commitments remain binding and warned Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. it could pursue legal action, including court orders, if the company does not present an acceptable plan, the articles report.

Reported Developments and Timing

• Location: Hamilton and Nanticoke, Ontario, Canada.
• Employees affected: 500 (reported by Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca, BNN Bloomberg).
• Government action: Ottawa set a five-business-day deadline for Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. to explain how it will meet prior employment commitments (reported by the named outlets).
• Dispute points: Union reports of location-specific offers and counts, and government warnings of potential legal enforcement (reported by the named outlets).

In summary, reporting from Toronto Star, thecanadianpressnews.ca and BNN Bloomberg indicates Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. has announced potential workforce reductions affecting 500 employees at its Ontario Stelco facilities and faces a short government deadline to justify how it will uphold earlier job commitments.