VideoEnergy & Economy
Cleveland-Cliffs four-year American steel contracts leave Hamilton out of $4 billion pledge
Ottawa's Stelco deadline lapsed on the same Friday 12,000 American steelworkers won four-year contracts, leaving Hamilton's laid-off workers to rely on federal undertakings.
Summary
Cleveland-Cliffs announced four-year labour agreements on Friday covering about 12,000 union employees in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Michigan, with at least $4 billion committed to its American union-represented facilities. The union says base wages rise by more than 18%. The same day, Ottawa's 15-day Stelco deadline expired without a court filing; Industry Minister Melanie Joly instead sent a letter to the competition watchdog.
The video's central puzzle is that Hamilton's laid-off workers belong to the same union, yet Ontario was left off the list. The union says only 40 Lake Erie jobs have been offered to the 175 Hamilton workers. A collective agreement cannot force a company to keep work in Canada. Hamilton's real protection is the undertakings Ottawa attached to the 2024 sale under the Investment Canada Act, which require unionized employment at 2024 levels through 2029.
The video reads the two countries as using different tools for the same problem. Washington doubled its steel tariff to 50% in June 2025, while Ottawa's lever is the power to set conditions on who owns a Canadian mill. The video asks why Ottawa has not gone to court, noting the company says it is in full compliance, and closes by asking whether every foreign buyer should face similar pledges.
Key points
- Cleveland-Cliffs announced four-year agreements covering 12,000 union employees in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Michigan.
- The company committed at least $4 billion to its American union-represented facilities; base wages rise by more than 18% over the contract term.
- Hamilton's 175 laid-off workers share the same union, but Ontario was left out; only 40 Lake Erie jobs have been offered.
- Stelco undertakings tied to the 2024 sale require unionized employment at 2024 levels through 2029 and are enforceable in a Canadian court.
- The American steel tariff doubled to 50% in June 2025.
- Members still have to ratify the American contracts in the coming weeks.
Questions answered
Does the Cleveland-Cliffs deal cover Hamilton workers?
No. The four-year contracts cover about 12,000 union employees in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Michigan, and Ontario is not on the list. The video says the only Hamilton promise reaching 2029 comes from undertakings Ottawa attached to the 2024 Stelco sale.
What are the Stelco undertakings under the Investment Canada Act?
They were conditions Ottawa attached when it approved Cleveland-Cliffs' 2024 takeover of Stelco. They require unionized employment at 2024 levels through 2029. The video says they were given to the government of Canada rather than to workers, and that they can be enforced in a Canadian court.
Why hasn't Ottawa taken Cleveland-Cliffs to court over Stelco?
The video notes that Ottawa's 15-day deadline expired on Friday without a court filing. Industry Minister Melanie Joly instead sent a letter to the competition watchdog. The video says Ottawa has not explained why it is waiting, and that the company says Stelco is in full compliance with every promise it made.
Prepared by the CanadaNext Editor with AI assistance from public reporting and CanadaNext's own videos. Sources are linked. How we work