Ohio-based Cleveland-Cliffs plans to lay off 597 workers at two of its mines on the Iron Range in Minnesota – Minorca in Virginia and Hibbing Taconite in Hibbing, reported Minnesota Public Radio. The layoffs are a result of the steelmaker’s plans to idle Minorca and partially idle HibTac.
The “temporary idles are necessary to rebalance working capital needs and consume excess pellet inventory produced in 2024,” Cleveland-Cliffs said in a statement. “We remain committed to supporting our employees and communities while monitoring market conditions.”
The layoffs are expected to occur on May 20, or soon after. At HibTac, 255 employees are expected to be laid off, while 342 will be affected at Minorca.
“While we anticipate these layoffs will be temporary, we cannot predict their length, which may exceed six months,” said Cleveland-Cliffs Vice President Robert Fischer.
“In the event of a longer-term layoff, Rangers need to know that we in the Iron Range Delegation are already working on a bill for extended unemployment to keep our skilled workforce on the Range,” State Rep. Cal Warwas (R-Clinton Township) said in a statement.
“I will continue to do everything in my power to mitigate the pain of this situation and work toward any solution that gets people back to work.”