In a decision that will affect 153 employees, steelmaker ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada says it is “restructuring” its wire drawing operations in Hamilton and Montreal — closing its Hamilton mill and concentrating work in Montreal.
At this point, it’s unclear if employees are being laid off or offered to transfer to Montreal. Company spokesperson Jean-Philippe Grou declined to tell CBC Hamilton when asked.
As a result of the change, the Hamilton mill will be permanently shut down in the coming weeks, said a news release issued Wednesday morning.
The company is aiming “to strengthen its competitiveness and ensure better long-term profitability for its wire drawing activities,” CEO Stephane Brochu said in the release.
United Steel Workers (USW) Local 5328 vice-president John Butler said the plant will close at the end of June.
“This is crushing news for the employees, retirees and the community at large. We will begin the process of a closure agreement,” he said in a post on social media site X Wednesday.
“It is never an easy decision to close a site,” Brochu said in the company media release. “First and foremost, all our efforts are focused on supporting the employees affected by this closure.”
According to its website, ArcelorMittal’s long products company makes billets, slabs, bars and wire rods, which are used in sectors including automobiles and construction.
The health of the steel industry in Hamilton has been the source of much concern due to U.S. tariffs, which recently increased to 50 per cent.
Grou would not confirm whether the company’s decision about the mill is tariff-related.
More to come.
