Output at the half-dozen taconite plants in the state is up more than ten percent compared to a year ago. And the forecast for next year suggests production could be the highest in more than a decade.

Members of a hospital workers union have voted "overwhelmingly" to ratify a new three-year contract with eight Twin Cities hospitals, union officials said on Wednesday. The vote, by members of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Minnesota, came just over a week after the union had threatened a two- to five-day strike as its contract was set to expire.

Union contracts at Hibbing Taconite and Union Taconite expire at midnight Friday night. The Steelworkers union is negotiating with Cliffs Natural Resources at talks underway in Pittsburgh. But labor leaders say a strikes are possible beginning Saturday and Cliffs says replacement workers are standing by.

The owner of two taconite plants in northern Minnesota, Cliffs Natural Resources, sent their team in charge of negotiating union worker's contracts home for the holiday weekend. Cliffs agreed to a short-term extension for current contracts with United Steelworkers Friday and the union decided they will not strike while negotiations continue.