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HAMILTON SPECTATOR, 8 JAN 2010 - National Steel Car will recall a total of 1,100 workers, ending a temporary shutdown that began last summer, union officials say.

The rail car maker landed a contract to build 750 iron ore cars, enough to put about 600 employees back on the job.

That’s in addition to the 500 workers the firm already said it would recall to fill an order from the Canadian National Railway, said Ron Wyatt, an official with the United Steelworkers union.

“If they don’t get any more orders this will be short-lived, but it puts people back to work for a while,” Wyatt said last night. “We’re hoping more orders will come along to keep our people working.”

The two contracts will likely keep the Kenilworth Avenue North plant running until May, he added. About 800 employees will be recalled by February. The full 1,100 workers — nearly every worker at the plant — is expected to be back by March.

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