Posted on 11/20/2012 5:35:32 PM PST by FreeAtlanta
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — About 625 people will be laid off when Cliffs Natural Resources idles a Michigan mine and cuts production at a Minnesota operation due to declining demand for iron ore, the company announced Monday. Two of the four production lines at Northshore Mining's taconite plant in Silver Bay will shut down effective Jan. 5, resulting in 125 layoffs, said Cliffs' Minnesota spokeswoman Sandy Karnowski. It has not been determined how those layoffs will be distributed between the plant and Northshore's mine in Babbitt, she said. Cliffs also plans an extended summer shutdown at the Empire Mine near Palmer, Mich., which will affect 500 jobs beginning in the second quarter of 2013. Empire currently has 730 employees. "It's a tough day for all of us at Cliffs and we're hopeful to see the market conditions improve...
(Excerpt) Read more at stamfordadvocate.com ...
The Great Obama Depression has begun.
We are Americans, we have had tough times before and we will
get through this rough time too.
We are the most resilient, toughest people in world.
We will make it these bad times too.
American iron ore goes through boom and bust cycles about every four years.
Really? I did not know the cycle was that quick in the industry. Oh well, blame it on Obama anyway. He is the President and he gets the blame for crap that happens on his watch.
The guys in that part of the country are among the toughest. Gonna be some hard times but up there is some of the best hunting, fishing, and trapping around which will help a lot.
How long until the only people working are government employees?
At least they have something to fall back on.
Plan B’s are nice to have.
I wish them well.
Obama probably has that planned for July 4. 20?? LOL
It won’t be long if this keeps up
Which results in what is now known as The Detroit Problem.
How will they be paid?
It looks like a few of those boats will be retired or mothballed. I sometime wonder if there will be anything left after Obama leaves office.
Lived through two years in Iraq. This shouldn't be all that bad. Maybe God was just preparing me.
Can't believe Americans decided to double down of failure.
Did you see that the FBI raided the library in Detroit? I personally suspect the Governor and AG called them in after the emergency financial manager law was tossed out.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2961635/posts
Really? I was aware that a lot of ore docks had closed.
How many ore carriers are currently active on the lakes now?
According to wiki, there are less than 140 active lakers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_freighter
We visited friends who have a retirement house up there last Summer. Really enjoyed our stay. Saw an ore carrier enter the harbor through the lift bridge from alongside the inlet. It was interesting being in a place where “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” is very much real life, and not just a catchy tune.
I saw the Edmund Fitzgerald just a few weeks before it sank. I was up north with my dad and we saw it passing through the Soo locks headed west.
Looks like they’re about to go over the Fiscal Cliff. LOL
What we need is a Food Stamp Nazi, No EBT for you!
not good for the UP. Mining is Our future is being posted throughout many areas in the Upper peninsula of Michigan. Now this will leave a mark.
Where I live one mine can be reopened if necessary. looks like that won’t be happening all to soon.
Logging is still going on. LP Structural Panels (sagola) is still processing logs into panels (the glue stinks). Lots of logging trucks on the roads on a daily basis
Tourism is hurting - because there is no snow on the ground yet. That is right no snow. Today it was in the 50s. thanksgiving is to 50 degree Friday a chance of snow and high of 28.
Summer was tough too so dry, that lakes and the Michigamme Reservoir is low
Plan B is getting hard to achieve with so many others already laid off.
Thought some others might like how it is the UP of Michigan. mackinac County has the lowest Unemployment rate 3.6%.
The Museum at Whitefish Point is dedicated to many of the lake Ships that sunk in Lake Superior.
fellow michiganders and Freepers have a great Turkey Day.
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