Northshore Mining was the last non-union mine operating on the Iron Range. That can no longer be said.

The United Steelworkers announced Tuesday that Northshore workers decdied to unionize after years of efforts from USW representatives, joining more than 2,000 workers at Cleveland-Cliffs locations in Minnesota and Michigan.

According to USW, workers opted into the organization through a “card check” process that allows the majority of the workforce to indicate their desire for a union.

“Mining in Minnesota provides essential support for our local communities, our domestic steel industry and our nation’s critical infrastructure,” said USW District 11 Director Emil Ramirez, who represents workers in Minnesota and eight other states. “We’re honored that workers at Northshore chose our union.”

The move comes after Northshore partially reopened in April after being idled for nearly due to demand and a royalty dispute. State lawmakers passed extended unemployment benefits for workers at the mine this year, one of the first bills signed into law this session by Gov. Tim Walz.

Northshore operations include more than 400 workers between its Babbitt mine site and Silver Bay production sites.

“We chose to unionize so that we can have a voice on the job, especially when it comes to workplace health and safety, retirement security and other critical issues that affect us every day,” said Jason Curtis, who works as a maintenance technician in the operation’s concentrator, through a press release. “We’re proud of our work and of our part in the long legacy of responsible mining in Minnesota. Now we’re looking forward to making these jobs even better.”