300+ workers return to Iron Range mine

More than 300 workers returned to work at the Minntac mine on the Iron Range earlier this week after a scheduled shutdown.

Steelworkers Local 1938 President Mike Woods says the three-week shutdown started the week of May 10. He says about 320 employees have now come back to work.

However, he says another shutdown is scheduled to begin June 28.

The mine produces taconite pellets, which are refined into steel. The taconite and domestic steel industries have been hit hard by the global economic recession.

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As a result, the state's six working taconite companies have all announced some sort of layoffs or extended seasonal shutdowns.

The Minntac mine is owned by U.S. Steel Corp., which lost $439 million during the first three months of 2009.

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Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)