Cleveland‑Cliffs’ new cuts add to growing mining uncertainty on the Iron Range

DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) - After the Cleveland-Cliffs idled both its HibTac and Minorca mines this spring and laid off about 600 Iron Rangers; they’ve now announced another round of downsizing.

Hibbing Taconite said yesterday that it will eliminate an additional 45 positions on Feb. 1, leaving the Cleveland-Cliffs-operated iron ore mine at reduced capacity.

While management says the move will help extend the mine’s lifespan, union leaders like Al King say the move is devastating and without change, Range communities will start to hollow out.

“It doesn’t get any scarier than the place we’re at now,” said King.

Management told workers the layoffs were due to restructuring based on “operational needs” and extending the lifespan of the mine, but HibTac union president Chris Johnson says for the 37 hourly and eight salaried workers being let go, this is detrimental.

“The timing is just terrible, you know how it is with mental health around this time of year anyways and now you throw this on there, I worry about them all,” said Johnson

With no official word yet on the future of Minorca and Hibbing Taconite, King says hundreds of Iron Range workers are left without a timeline for when they might return to work.

“With the lack of communication from Cleveland-Cliffs, a lot of the people are weighing their odds and saying are we just going to wait around for this indefinite date to somehow come to be?” said King.

Johnson says the miners and their jobs are now left in the hands of lawmakers like Rep. Spencer Igo, who will have to work across the aisle to continue to extend unemployment benefits and get permits through for the mines.

“We need to be doing all we can to keep mining moving forward so that we can retain, these men and women that work in this industry, but also retain the jobs and businesses that support them,” said Rep. Igo.

Other lawmakers like Rep. Cal Warwas echoed the concern.

“I do know some folks that have felt compelled to leave the area and that’s sad, we definitely want to build out as much opportunity for them as we can,” said Rep. Warwas.

They all agree and say it’s not just a career field in danger; it’s an entire community.

“There’s going to be tumbleweeds blowing through these towns pretty soon if they’re not careful, and it’s going to be like the 80s kids are going to have to leave and not stay around where they love to be,” said Johnson.

Specific positions being impacted are unknown at this time, Johnson said they will likely be meeting with the company next week to discuss future options.

Click here to download the Northern News Now app or our Northern News Now First Alert weather app.