SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Cleveland Cliffs announced operations at Northshore Mining in Babbitt and Silver Bay will remain idle until at least April 2023. Rep. Dave Lislegard (DFL – Aurora) issued the following statement:
“The news of the extended shutdown at Northshore is devastating. As the industry transitions, the State of Minnesota has a responsibility to be there for the workers and their families. We have seen this before, and it is our job to do whatever we can to carry them through the adversity. Situations like this are exactly why it was imperative for the state to fully replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. We must exhaust any and all options to provide resources, including an Unemployment Insurance extension, to carry these workers through this period of hardship.
“With the current UI benefits set to expire for many workers in November, an extension is another reason why it’s imperative for lawmakers to return to the Capitol for a special session. Today’s development is heartbreaking, and the anxiety and fear workers and their families feel when they aren’t sure when their job will come back is real and weighs heavy. Our region has experienced difficulties before, and I know we’re resilient. I’m fully committed to fighting for workers in our region to help them get through these difficult times.”