Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
The United Steelworkers (USW) today welcomed workers at Cleveland Cliffs’ Northshore Mining as the newest members of the union.
The approximately 400 workers mine taconite in Babbitt, Minn., make iron ore pellets in Silver Bay, Minn., and transport products and tailings.
“Mining in Minnesota provides essential support for our local communities, our domestic steel industry and our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez, who represents workers in Minnesota and eight other states. “We’re honored that workers at Northshore chose our union.”
Workers elected to join the USW through card check, a process by which a majority of workers indicate their desire for a union.
“We chose to unionize so that we can have a voice on the job, especially when it comes to workplace health and safety, retirement security and other critical issues that affect us every day,” said Jason Curtis, who works as a maintenance technician in the operation’s concentrator.
“We’re proud of our work and of our part in the long legacy of responsible mining in Minnesota. Now we’re looking forward to making these jobs even better.”
The USW also represents approximately 2,000 workers at four other Cliffs’ mining facilities in Minnesota and northern Michigan. Northshore Mining was the last remaining taconite mine on Minnesota’s Iron Range without a union.
The USW represents 850,000 workers in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.