Talks resume today in Cliffs-USW contracts

Cliffs Natural Resources and the United Steelworkers Union are scheduled to resume labor contract negotiations today in Duluth, MN.  Both parties agreed to a temporary recess from labor contract negotiations August 31.

Cliffs’ USW represented mines in Michigan and Minnesota have continued to operate with a temporary arrangement.

The two sides have reached a short-term agreement in which the union has agreed to not strike and the company not do a lock out without giving the other party 48 hours notice.

The contract extension covers approximately 2,400 USW-represented workers at Cliffs’ Empire and Tilden mines in Marquette County and its United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota.

According to a press release from company officials, Cliffs began this round of collective bargaining with the United Steelworkers in early May with the objective of reaching a new labor agreement.  Cliffs stated that the company remains committed to the negotiation process and intends to reach a fair and equitable agreement.  Additional information is available at: http://www.cliffsnaturalresources.com and at www.local4974.org.