Union steel workers rally for fair contract with mining company in Upper Peninsula

NEGAUNEE, Mich. (WJMN/WBUP) — Union steel workers rallied for a fair contract with mining company Cleveland Cliffs as their bargaining representatives prepare for another trip to Pittsburgh for negotiations.

Union workers with USW Local 4950 have been working under an expired contract since August, and say the current negotiation process is taking longer than usual.

USW International staff representative Brian Fisher said the purpose of the rally was to send a message of solidarity to management ahead of the next round of bargaining.

“When we go to Pittsburgh to bargain a fair contract for us, we’re using your voice,” said Fisher to the crowd of workers attending the rally. “This gives us our power. This is our power, our collective action… I want you all to know that your committee and I hear you, and it’s our goal to bring you back a fair contract that rewards us.”

The negotiation sticking points have been the usual suspects, according to USW Local 4950 Vice President Mike Grondz — wages, benefits and healthcare. In an October update, union staff informed membership that Cliffs has proposed making significant changes to healthcare plans, potentially including premiums and deductibles for in-network care.

“To date, the company’s proposals on healthcare changes have been unacceptable to the locals and therefore no tentative agreement has yet been reached,” read the Oct. 8 USW update.

At the rally, Grondz told My UP News that a USW win at the negotiating table has ramifications beyond their member list.

“The unions build up the middle class. We wouldn’t have a middle class in this country if it wasn’t for unions,” said Grondz. “Our wage and benefit package affects every worker here in the central UP. We drive that bar, and without continually driving that bar and pushing, it wouldn’t benefit everybody in the county the way it does.”

In attendance to support union workers were political candidates Sara Cambensy (Independent for 38th State Senate), Anna Rink (Democrat for 109th State House) and Marquette County Board Chair Joe Derocha.