Mineworkers' contract negotiations down to the wire
Negotiations are going down to the wire on a new labor deal covering about 2,000 mineworkers on the Iron Range. The union's current contract expires at midnight Tuesday.
United Steelworkers is in talks with both U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal, which operate three of northeast Minnesota's six big iron ore mines.
Union leaders have been meeting with the companies in Pittsburgh since July. The labor agreements cover about 30,000 workers at U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal facilities across the U.S.
"We're continuing to bargain, we've been making some small steps forward," said United Steelworkers district director John Rebrovich, of Eveleth. "I emphasize 'small.'"
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More than 1,000 mineworkers on the Iron Range have been laid off this year as the industry struggles against a flood of cheap steel imports.
The union has agreed to continue working under the current contract while negotiations continue.
Thousands of workers and supporters are planning to hold rallies Tuesday at ArcelorMittal offices in Chicago and northern Indiana.
Workers at the company's Minorca Mine in Virginia, Minn., plan to hold a "practice picket" outside the mine Tuesday afternoon. "It's a practice to show our solidarity," said electrician Harold Anderson, who works at Minorca.
Union leaders have accused the companies of trying to take advantage of the downturn in the steel and iron ore industries to negotiate steep cuts in health care coverage and other benefits.
"Everybody's just nervous, you know, want to get an end to this, we want to continue what we do, we all work hard, we do a great job, we're just hoping to keep what we have, for both our active and our retirees," Anderson said.
Officials from ArcelorMittal and U.S. Steel say they don't comment on the details of ongoing negotiations. But Arcelor Mittal officials have said the company has lost $1.5 billion since 2010 as steel prices have plummeted while its costs remain unchanged.
Meanwhile U.S. Steel said in a statement it appreciates United Steelworkers' commitment to extend the contract negotiations.
The current talks cover three of the six main taconite operations on the Iron Range. The steelworkers union begins talks with Cliffs Natural Resources, which operates the other three big mines in Minnesota, on Sept. 9.