Since November 7th, 2010, 900 production workers have been in lockout with US Steel Hamilton Mill. The lockout still rages on, with the Local USW 1005 members still fighting for a new contract with US Steel. Although these people are not working at the mill currently, U.S. Steel is still hiring, advertising for a dozen managers to fill empty jobs inside the mill.

In an article from TheSpec, it reported that "On the Internet site Workopolis, U.S. Steel has posted a dozen job openings since April 7 seeking candidates for “immediate” openings in its Hamilton operation.

Eight of the positions are for shift managers in various departments, including steelmaking, coking, shipping, maintenance and others. There is also a position for a “management associate” designed as an entry-level position for a recent engineering graduate. Other openings are for a metallurgist, a “technical associate” to maintain safety records and a co-ordinator for the casting maintenance department.

Eight other postings seek to fill jobs open at the Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke.

'I imagine it’s because they have people in there quitting and retiring,” said union leader Jake Lombardo. “They’re not saying much to us about it, but they must be short of bodies.'"

Although the company has kept its coke ovens operating and have shipped out some coke products, the plant has been relatively quiet without production going on.The USW 1005 is still on lockout from a pension index dispute between the workers and US Steel.