Hundreds of members and supporters of USW Locals 4950 and 4974 rallied in Negaunee, MI on Saturday to demand a fair contract for workers at Cliffs Natural Resources. Workers rallied at Miners Park in Michigan’s upper peninsula as the contract between the Steelworkers and Cliffs approached its October 1 expiration date.
At the bargaining table, Cliffs is demanding concessions that would erase years of collective bargaining progress in the mining industry. Steelworkers say that they’re not willing to let Cliffs use a temporary downturn in the market as an excuse to make unnecessary and permanent cuts.
Steelworkers from Cliffs were joined by community supporters, local businesses and elected leaders including County Commissioners Gerry Corkin and Karen Alholm and State Representatives Scott Dianda and John Keivala.
