Novelis Kingston Layoffs: Job Cuts and Temporary Layoff Rights

Novelis announced job cuts affecting approximately 80 employees at its Kingston, Ontario, aluminum plant on September 18, 2026: 10 salaried employees were terminated and about 70 hourly employees were temporarily laid off, according to Kingstonist’s updated report.

The distinction matters. Employees whose jobs ended need to assess their termination packages. Employees on temporary layoff need answers about benefits, recall and the rules that apply to their situation.

If you are a non-unionized Novelis employee with a severance offer, don’t sign before finding out what you could be owed. Unionized employees should contact their union about the layoff and their next steps.

On This Page:

• 1. Job Cuts At A Glance
• 2. Why Novelis Is Cutting Jobs
• 3. Plant Status And Recall
• 4. Checking Your Severance
• 5. Temporary Layoff Questions
• 6. What To Do Now
• 7. Novelis Layoff FAQs

Novelis Kingston Layoffs At A Glance

Why Is Novelis Cutting Jobs In Kingston?

Novelis attributes the reductions to the cost of U.S. Section 232 duties on Canadian aluminum. In an email reported by Kingston Daily, the company confirmed the split between salaried job losses and hourly temporary layoffs.

The facility makes aluminum products used in marine, transportation and industrial applications. The latest reductions follow 21 job cuts reported in June 2025. Those earlier cuts are separate from the September 2026 total.

Is The Novelis Kingston Plant Closing?

The reported announcement is a production reduction, not a plant closure. Novelis told Kingstonist that remaining operational leaves it able to increase production if circumstances change.

The company also said it would work with the union to recall hourly employees if production increased. That possibility is not a confirmed return-to-work date. Affected workers should ask for written information about recall arrangements and benefit coverage.

What Should Terminated Novelis Employees Check?

Novelis confirmed that it is offering severance and outplacement services, but the public report does not disclose package amounts or a company severance formula. You need your own offer reviewed to know where you stand.

For non-unionized employees, severance can be worth up to 24 months’ pay, depending on factors such as age, service, position, employment contract and the availability of comparable work. Ontario’s minimum payments are not necessarily the full amount you could be owed.

Three questions to ask about your package

• Does it cover your full compensation? Check the treatment of benefits and any bonus or other compensation you normally receive, alongside salary.
• What happens if you find another job? Ask whether payments continue, stop or change. The wording of the offer matters.
• What are you being asked to sign away? A release can prevent you from pursuing additional compensation.

Outplacement services can help with your job search. They do not, by themselves, tell you whether the financial package is fair. Use our free Severance Pay Calculator for an initial estimate, then have the complete offer checked.

What Does A Temporary Layoff Mean For Novelis Workers?

It means work has stopped with the possibility of recall; it does not guarantee when work will resume. Your next step depends on whether you are covered by a collective agreement.

If you are unionized

Ask your union about recall order, seniority, benefit continuation and any deadlines for raising a concern. Also ask what happens if the layoff continues or you are offered other work. Your collective agreement and the applicable employment standards rules need to be considered together.

If you are not unionized

Do not assume that calling a layoff “temporary” settles your rights. The employer’s authority to impose it and the applicable time limits are separate questions. Depending on your contract and circumstances, you can treat the layoff as a dismissal without cause.

Get advice before accepting a layoff extension, resigning or treating the employment relationship as over.

What Affected Novelis Employees Should Do Now

1. Confirm your status in writing. Keep the letter identifying whether your employment has ended or you are on temporary layoff, and the effective date.
2. Keep your personal employment records. Gather your contract, recent pay statements, benefit information and any severance offer or release.
3. Apply for EI promptly if you have stopped working. Service Canada says you can apply before receiving your Record of Employment. Eligibility depends on your circumstances.
4. Use the right route for advice. Union members must contact their union. Non-unionized employees can have their package or layoff notice reviewed by an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP before agreeing to anything.

Our Kingston employment lawyers help non-unionized employees understand their offers and pursue the compensation they are owed.

Novelis Kingston Layoff FAQs

Were all 80 Novelis employees permanently terminated?

No. The reported breakdown is 10 salaried terminations and approximately 70 hourly temporary layoffs. Describing all 80 as permanent job losses would miss that distinction.

Do tariffs mean a non-unionized employee gets less severance?

A tariff-related business reason does not reduce an employee’s severance rights. The offer still needs to be assessed against the applicable law, contract and individual circumstances.

Should I wait for the plant to increase production before checking my offer?

If your employment has ended, have your offer reviewed now. A possible recall of hourly employees is a separate issue from the package offered to someone whose position was eliminated.

Sources

• Kingstonist: September 18 report, including the corrected employee count and company response
• Kingston Daily: September 19 report on the Kingston workforce reductions
• Service Canada: Employment Insurance regular benefits

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about a publicly reported workforce reduction and the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It does not state or suggest that Novelis, any related company or any other employer acted unlawfully, made an improper severance offer or failed to meet its obligations to any employee.