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Is this the 1980s again on the Iron Range?
I grew up in the 1980s on a junkyard just a few miles south of Eveleth Taconite. Growing up on a junkyard is probably the best way to understand the things humans build, sell, use and discard. So let’s consider a new car. I’ve only ever bought one brand new car fresh off the lot. It…
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KeeTac staying down indefinitely
As many media outlets have already reported, U.S. Steel announced Friday that, come Oct. 11, the company would lay off all remaining maintenance workers at Keewatin Taconite. The mine has been idled since May. The local newspaper reported that it was “another” shutdown, but it is important to note that the plant never started up again. The cooling…
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U.S. Steel, ArcelorMittal back to table with Steelworkers
Next Monday U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal will resume negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America over labor contracts at Mesabi Iron Range mines. Cliffs Natural Resources is also negotiating with Steelworkers over contracts at its mines. All of the Minnesota’s 4,500-some miners are affected by these talks. U.S. Steel took a break from talks nine days ago to allow…
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U.S. Steel, union ‘taking break’ from heated negotiations
Following news of ArcelorMittal walking away from the table in union negotiations late last week, U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers have announced a more amicable “break” in negotiations with a scheduled resumption in two weeks. Nevertheless, serious differences remain in a year in which mining companies are asking for concessions from the union amid…
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Another closed blast furnace a warning to Range mines
On Monday, U.S. Steel announced plans to close a steelmaking facility in Alabama and its accompanying blast furnace. The company said its goal is to reduce costs and improve efficiencies in its production. More than 1,100 workers are affected by this closure. From a U.S. Steel press release: “We have made some difficult decisions over the last…
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Steelworkers warn of possible strike at Range mines
The United Steelworkers represents miners in most Minnesota iron mines. The union is currently negotiating new contracts with the mining companies. Though several companies own the mines of the Iron Range, the contracts are generally timed to expire at the same time, in this case Sept. 1. When there’s a labor problem on the Range it usually encompasses…
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U.S. Steel announces September restart for Minntac
WDIO is reporting that U.S. Steel will call back all its laid off workers at Minntac for a September restart of its idled lines at Minnesota’s largest taconite mine and production plant. That date is consistent with estimates of the shutdown’s duration when it was announced earlier this year. U.S. Steel’s other mine at Keewatin…
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Some miners called back to work, but not for mining
The Mesabi Daily News reported yesterday that a number of laid off miners at Minntac were called back to work this week to perform scheduled maintenance projects. In this case, the miners are replacing outside contractors who otherwise would have been hired for the work. The so-called word on the street always was that idled workers at U.S. Steel’s…
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Steelworkers negotiations underway in Pittsburgh
After a spring and early summer in which Iron Range mine owners tightened belts, idled workers and sought relief from taxes and environmental regulations, now we come to a new phase of the region’s simmering crisis. This week in Pittsburgh, the United Steelworkers, the union that represents most Iron Range miners, opened negotiations with ArcelorMittal…
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With contracts looming, Range mines crunch numbers
No matter your job or politics, ten dollars is always ten dollars. By some reports, that’s how much money some Iron Range mines need to shave off their cost for a ton of taconite iron ore to survive the coming global steel industry contraction. John Myers at the Duluth News Tribune reported on this last weekend, highlighting…
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State cuts mining lease costs for U.S. Steel
The Associated Press reports that after a unanimous vote of the state executive council yesterday, Minnesota will reduce the royalties owed by U.S. Steel from 91 cents to 75 cents per ton for iron ore mined from state land. Those royalties pay into funds that support schools and universities in Minnesota. This was the result of a direct…
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U.S. Steel responds to Keewatin Taconite rumors
UPDATE: U.S. Steel spokesperson Courtney Boone just told me that the company did not fire 50 management workers at Keewatin Taconite today. My source was in error. Thus, I am retracting the post for now. The mine really is going into indefinite shutdown next week, however, with some staff staying on for scheduled maintenance projects until…
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A simmering economic crisis on the Iron Range
You know the old saying. If you drop a frog in a pot of boiling water it will hop right out. But if you put a frog in a pot of cool water, gradually turning up the heat, the frog won’t realize it’s boiling to death. Politicians of all stripes have boiled a bog’s worth of rhetorical frogs over the years.…
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Magnetation to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Last week we reported the financial woes of Magnetation, the scram mining and iron ore processing company based on the western Mesabi Iron Range. Their partner and chief customer AK Steel declined to continue putting money into the company and Magnetation began working with financial advisors to keep the company afloat. Rumors were grim, to…
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Dire challenges ahead for Magnetation
The scram mining company Magnetation appears headed for a make or break moment in coming months after partner AK Steel said Tuesday it would not put any more money into the company. Right now Magnetation processes waste rock at old Mesabi Iron Range mine sites into iron pellets that feed AK Steel’s operations in Indiana.…