The United Steelworkers have approved a new labor deal with steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs.
A statement from the union said workers “overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new, four-year contract covering roughly 12,000 members at 13 Cleveland-Cliffs Steel locations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia and Minnesota.”
The contract covers workers at Cleveland-Cliffs' Indiana locations at Burns Harbor, East Chicago (Indiana Harbor Works-East and Indiana Harbor Works-West) and New Carlisle as well as in nearby Riverdale, Illinois. The company and union reached a tentative deal in late August, which required ratification from the union.
David McCall, a representative for the union who chaired the negotiations, said that members won major wage and benefit improvements through hard work and solidarity.
“Throughout the pandemic and every other challenge that faces the industry, Steelworkers perform the work essential to keep our plants running safely and productively,” McCall said. “Thanks to the solidarity of USW members, activists and local union leaders, our work will be safer and pay more without sacrificing security of our jobs.”
The new contract raises base wages by 20%, improves insurance benefits for active and retired workers, increases pensions, improves vacation provisions, an additional holiday and includes new provisions of parental paid leave and for employees who are victims of domestic violence.
Tom Conway, international president for the steelworkers, said Cleveland-Cliffs’ commitment to lead the steel industry and partner with the USW includes a plan to invest $4 billion in its USW facilities during the contract term that will improve production, create sustainable jobs for future generations of steelworkers and ensure success for the company.
