Contract agreement ratified between United Steelworkers, Cleveland-Cliffs

Friday, leaders of the United Steelworkers union and Cleveland-Cliffs announced a contract agreement had been ratified.

According to Cleveland-Cliffs, which owns the United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota, the agreements are effective starting Saturday, Oct. 1.

The 47-month-long agreement will have significant wage and benefit improvements, according to USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez, who issued the following statement:

“Our work will be more prosperous and our jobs more secure with the new contract in place. Our contract ensures that the standard of living for USW members, our families and communities will continue to improve.”

Emil Ramirez, District 11 Director of USW

The contract covers about 2,000 members of four local union at the company’s mines in both Minnesota and Michigan.

A separate four-year, tentative agreement is currently being voted on by about 12,000 USW members at 13 of the company’s steel facilities, according to the union.

The deal announcement comes after Cleveland-Cliffs announced last month it had reached a tentative agreement that was also four years long with workers at the Minorca mine near Virginia, Minn.

RELATED: Tentative work agreement reached between United Steelworkers, Cleveland-Cliffs

Cleveland-Cliffs also issued a statement Friday regarding the ratification:

“We are pleased to reach new labor agreements that are fair, equitable and beneficial for our employees, their families and the company. With a strong and loyal workforce, we are confident that Cleveland-Cliffs will continue to be the benchmark in the iron and steel industry. We thank all the members of the USW and Cliffs negotiating teams for their dedication to reach those agreements.”

Lourenco Goncalves, President, CEO and Chairman of Cleveland Cliffs