Workers at Cleveland Cliffs’ Northshore Mining join USW
Minneapolis, MN – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced that workers at Cleveland Cliffs’ Northshore Mining joined the union July 18.
The approximately 400 workers mine taconite in Babbitt, Minnesota, make iron ore pellets in Silver Bay, and transport products and tailings.
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.
The USW also represents approximately 2000 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.