Click here to download a PDF of this update to distribute at your facility
With our current contract set to expire on October 1, our bargaining committees are getting ready to head to the bargaining table. USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez who chairs negotiations with Cliffs and Assistant to the Director John Reborvich have been in communications with Cliffs Management to discuss ground-rules for the upcoming contract negotiations.
Our contract negotiations with Cliffs play out on two levels—first, local leaders from each site get together with local management to discuss site-specific ‘local’ issues. Those local issue negotiations are scheduled to start the week of July 27th. Then, later in September, local representatives from all sites will come together in Pittsburgh to discuss items that impact all sites like wages, retirement, healthcare, and other items.
As bargaining progresses at the local and at the national level, we’ll be working to make sure that everybody is informed of what’s going on at the bargaining table and we will be asking everyone to stand up and show the company that you support the union. Throughout the process we’ll be distributing paper updates and circulating text messages with timely and important updates on negotiations. To sign up to receive text messages on your cell phone text the word ‘CLIFFS’ to 47486 (Standard message and data rates apply; to stop receiving texts, text ‘stop’ for help, text ‘help’).
There’s a lot at stake in this round of contract negotiations. With your support, solidarity, and involvement we can win a fair contract for all USW members at Cliffs Natural Resources.