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Cliffs Natural Resources, Steelworkers Shake Hands on New Labor Agreement
08/26/2016 - North American iron ore miner Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. has reached a tentative labor agreement with the United Steelworkers union, the company announced on Friday.
The three-year agreement, retroactive to 1 October 2015, covers approximately 2,000 workers at Cliffs’ U.S. mines in Michigan and Minnesota.
"We are pleased to reach a new labor contract that is fair and equitable to both parties and provides Cliffs a competitive cost structure for future success. This agreement once again reinforces that we have more in common with the (United Steelworkers) than we have differences, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership," Cliffs chairman and chief executive Lourenco Goncalves said in a statement.
The company said it would not discuss details of the contract, pending a ratification vote. The Steelworkers union said it would begin scheduling meetings with the rank-and-file to discuss the agreement.
"We are proud to bring this tentative agreement to the membership for ratification and put the past year of uncertainty behind us," said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez, chairman of the union's bargaining committee.
"Thanks to the solidarity of USW members and retirees within and between our locals, we have negotiated a fair agreement that preserves our wages, benefits and other longstanding rights and protections without lowering the standards of living of current workers or retirees," he said.
"We are pleased to reach a new labor contract that is fair and equitable to both parties and provides Cliffs a competitive cost structure for future success. This agreement once again reinforces that we have more in common with the (United Steelworkers) than we have differences, and we look forward to continuing our strong partnership," Cliffs chairman and chief executive Lourenco Goncalves said in a statement.
The company said it would not discuss details of the contract, pending a ratification vote. The Steelworkers union said it would begin scheduling meetings with the rank-and-file to discuss the agreement.
"We are proud to bring this tentative agreement to the membership for ratification and put the past year of uncertainty behind us," said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez, chairman of the union's bargaining committee.
"Thanks to the solidarity of USW members and retirees within and between our locals, we have negotiated a fair agreement that preserves our wages, benefits and other longstanding rights and protections without lowering the standards of living of current workers or retirees," he said.
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