Market Segment
August 28, 2026
USW: Cliffs and union remain at odds as Sept. 1 deadline nears
Written by Michael Cowden
The United Steelworkers (USW) union and Cleveland-Cliffs remain at an impasse on key issues, the union said in an update to members on Friday.
That has been the case for several weeks now. But it takes on more urgency because a prior agreement between the USW and the Cleveland-based steelmaker expires on Sept. 1.
Sticking points include wages, capital expenditures, health care, and a proposed new profit-sharing plan, the union said. However, the USW also noted the two sides had reached a tentative agreement on safety issues.
Cleveland-Cliffs had not responded to a request for comment before this article was published on Friday.
“After five long weeks of bargaining, Cliffs still has not proposed any wage increases yet,” the USW said. The company has also “not made clear commitments” to invest money in its plants.
The USW in addition took issue with profit-sharing agreements, part of its current labor pact with Cliffs, that have resulted in consecutive quarters with no payout.
Cliffs has lost money in each quarter from Q3’24 onwards. The company continued to lose money in the second quarter of this year, the most recent figure for which earnings data is available.
That said, Cliffs narrowed its losses compared to the same quarter last year and predicted better results in future quarters.
