Steel Mills

USW Ratifies New Pact With Cliffs Mining Operations

Written by David Schollaert

September 30, 2022

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and the United Steelworkers (USW) union announced they have agreed to a new labor deal after members ratified the terms of a new, four-year collective agreement, the company and union said on Friday, Sept. 30.

Cliffs logo2.2The USW-represented employees at Cliffs mining and pelletizing locations in northern Minnesota and in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan “overwhelmingly voted” in favor of ratifying the new labor pact.

The new deal features significant wage and benefit improvements, as well as Cliffs’ commitment to invest in the future of the USW-represented facilities, said Emil Ramirez, USW District 11 director.

District 11 represents Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Ramirez chaired negotiations with Cliffs on behalf of the union.

“Our work will be more prosperous and our jobs more secure with the new contract in place,” said Ramirez. “Our contract ensures that the standard of living for USW members, our families and communities will continue to improve.”

The new labor pact is effective Oct. 1 and covers approximately 2,000 USW-represented at Cliffs Tilden and Empire mines in Michigan, and its United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota.

“We are pleased to reach new labor agreements that are fair, equitable, and beneficial for our employees, their families, and the company,” Cliffs Chairman, President, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said. “With a strong and loyal workforce, we are confident that Cleveland-Cliffs will continue to be the benchmark in the iron and steel industry.”

Separately, about 12,000 union members at thirteen Cliffs’ steelmaking facilities are currently voting on a four-year tentative agreement. Ratification procedures will be completed by the USW on Oct. 12 when local union election tellers will travel to Pittsburgh to count ballots.

By David Schollaert, David@SteelMarketUpdate.com

David Schollaert

David Schollaert is a senior analyst for Steel Market Update. David joined SMU after more than a decade in the metals and mining industry in a myriad of different roles. Much of his early experience and expertise were within the coverage and analysis of steel-making raw materials and served previously as senior editor of the CRU Prices Service. Most recently, however, before his return to market analysis, David held roles as a metals buyer and an operations manager for raw material suppliers. Based in CRU’s Pittsburgh office, David can be reached at david@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-720-1008.

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