On Friday, Cleveland, Ohio-based natural resource company Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. announced a short-term extension of its labor contract with the United Steelworkers (USW) since both parties have not reached a new agreement. The parties have agreed that the union will not strike and Cliffs will not lock out until 48 hours after providing written notice to the other party of their intent to be released from this no strike/no lockout commitment.
The contract extension covers approximately 2,400 USW-represented workers at Cliffs' Empire and Tilden mines in Michigan, and its United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota. The extension will keep the mines operating while negotiations continue. Cliffs began this round of collective bargaining with the United Steelworkers in early May with the objective of reaching a new labor agreement.