US Steel Canada announced Monday that it will lay off at least 56 workers following its decision last week to idle its Hamilton coke ovens.
According to local news reports, the idling will eventually affect about 100 of the plant’s remaining 600 employees. A news bulletin from the United Steelworkers Local 1005 said "there may be more layoffs in six to eight weeks when the by-product and waste-water treatment units are shut down."
Some workers will reportedly be reassigned to operations in the cold rolling mill, galvanizing line or Z-line. Reports also indicate the possibility of some laid-off workers filling vacancies at US Steel’s Lake Erie Works.