Cliffs laying off 100 Salaried workers at United Taconite, Northshore, Hibbing Taconite add to Iron Range mining woes

CLEVELAND — The mining layoffs this time around are salaried workers.

Cliffs Natural Resources will eliminate about 100 white collar employees spread out at its Hibbing Taconite, Northhsore Mining and United Taconite Iron Range operations.

Union officials say these cuts do not involve any union workers.

The news was the latest jolt to mining on the Range. It follows announcements of about 1,150 layoffs by U.S. Steel at its Minntac plant in Mountain Iron and the Keetac facility in Keewatin, and more than 40 pink slips given out at Magnetation on the east Range.

Cliffs officials have made it clear recently that they intend to continue reducing costs, including staffing.

Rumors of the layoffs began circulating in the area late Monday morning. Cliffs was contacted at its home office in Cleveland for comment at that time but did not

respond to requests for confirmation and comment.

DFL Reps. Jason Metsa of Virginia and Carly Melin of Hibbing said the layoffs by Cliffs is following a “familiar” trend in the region.

“Once again, family and friends on the Range are facing economic hardship and an uncertain future,” Melin said.

“Unfortunately, this is becoming familiar news. We will do everything we can to make sure the state of Minnesota is supportive of our families on the Range and that they get the benefits they have earned and deserve,” Metsa said.

The two lawmakers urged workers being laid off to contact them directly with any questions.