In recent years, the United Steelworkers (USW) has positioned itself as a defender of American sovereignty and steel. Their leadership, particularly during the contentious Nippon Steel–US Steel negotiations, was unflinchingly vocal in opposition. Yet today, as Cleveland-Cliffs openly entertains interest from foreign investors amid mounting operational struggles, the USW's near-total silence is difficult to reconcile. The contrast raises critical questions about priorities, consistency, and whether member interests truly drive the union's strategy.
Cleveland-Cliffs—once propped by USW as the "ideal" strategic buyer for US Steel—now faces economic and operational pressures reminiscent of its former acquisition target. In 2025 alone, the company announced the indefinite shutdown of three major facilities: Riverdale, Illinois, and Conshohocken and Steelton in Pennsylvania. These closures will result in the loss of approximately 950 jobs. Company executives directly attributed the decision to weak demand and insufficient pricing for specialty products outside Cliffs' core business focus.
These layoffs follow a difficult stretch earlier in the year, with an additional 1,200 workers losing their jobs at plants in Michigan and Minnesota due to sluggish automotive production and market uncertainty. Mines on Minnesota's Iron Range were also idled, impacting nearly 600 employees.
Financially, Cleveland-Cliffs has felt the effects: its fourth-quarter 2024 revenue dropped nearly 16% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, with leadership pointing to a surge of foreign-made car sales impacting domestic demand. Despite cost-cutting moves, including the promise of more than $300m in annual savings through plant closures and strategic withdrawals from underperforming segments, the company continues to lose ground.
In the stock market, Cliffs' shares have failed to inspire confidence. After peaking above $12 earlier in 2025, the stock has lost significant value. As of August 8, 2025, Cleveland-Cliffs (CLF) closed at $9.56 per share—a roughly 30% decline over the preceding months, even as news of foreign suitors temporarily buoyed market speculation.
Amid this turmoil, Cliffs has publicly acknowledged inbound interest from international investors, hinting at possible sales of core assets. Yet, strikingly, the USW leadership—so vocal against Nippon Steel's proposed acquisition of US Steel—has issued no public warning, objection, or demand for upfront worker protections. This silence stands in contrast to earlier campaigns warning of national security risks and threats to American jobs.
The union's decision to stay silent during a period of rising layoffs, plant closures, and asset sales risks signaling tacit approval, undercutting its credibility and bargaining power. Past rhetoric about fundamental risks posed by foreign investment appears situational rather than principled. If left unaddressed, this selective advocacy further erodes trust within the membership, especially as job losses mount and communities see factories shuttered with little warning.
If the USW leadership believes foreign investment in American steel poses fundamental risks, that position should be applied consistently and transparently—regardless of the company involved. This means making timely public statements, consulting rank-and-file members before deals advance, and insisting on binding commitments for job, plant, and pension protection before any foreign investor enters the boardroom.
The United Steelworkers' silence on Cleveland-Cliffs courting foreign buyers is a disgrace. This is the same union that screamed about national security when Nippon Steel tried to buy US Steel—but now, with hundreds of American jobs lost and Cliffs hinting at selling off core assets, they've suddenly lost their voice. Either foreign investment is a threat or it's not—you don't get to flip-flop based on political alliances. The union owes it to every steelworker to speak up, fight back, and demand transparency. If they won't, they're complicit in selling out the American steel industry. This isn't leadership—it's betrayal.
As Cleveland-Cliffs grapples with the same pressures that once threatened US Steel, American workers deserve a union that places their interests above political or corporate convenience. At a moment when industrial communities face economic uncertainty and shrinking opportunity, consistency and openness from union leadership are essential for rebuilding trust and defending the future of American steel.
Mike Crispi is an experienced talk show host, TV reporter, businessman, and political activist. He is currently the host of 'Last Call with Mike Crispi' on Real America's Voice TV and 'Mike Crispi Unafraid', a syndicated podcast with the Salem Podcast Network and on Rumble.
