Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk receives Hard Rock Miners award

The Iron Ore Alliance announced that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk is the recipient of its fourth-annual “Hard Rock Miners” award, in recognition of his outstanding commitment and contributions to Minnesota’s taconite industry.

Members of the Iron Ore Alliance presented the award to Bakk at the organization’s annual dinner on Tuesday evening.

Bakk served nearly three decades in the Minnesota Legislature from 1995 to 2022, including as Senate majority and minority leader and chair of the powerful Senate Taxes committee. He is the father of Iron Ore Alliance Co-Chair Mike Bakk. Click here to download photos of Tom Bakk with his award.

“Tom spent nearly three decades of his impressive legislative career passionately advocating for iron miners and the industry,” said John Arbogast, staff representative for United Steelworkers District 11 and co-chair of the Iron Ore Alliance. “From regulatory reforms to sales tax exemptions for investments, we’re proud to honor his legacy in the mining industry.”

Over the years, Bakk’s accomplishments include leading efforts to establish the Vermilion State Park on former U. S. Steel property, creating the Taconite Economic Development Fund, which sets aside 25 cents per ton for investment back into taconite facilities, and during tough economic times, worked to extend unemployment benefits for laid off miners.

The Iron Ore Alliance, a unique collaboration between the United Steelworkers and U. S. Steel, constructs the annual award out of taconite from U. S. Steel’s Minntac facility in Mountain Iron. Bakk is the fourth recipient of the award, following Senator David Tomassoni (2022), Bob Bratulich (2023) and Chris Masciantonio (2024).

“As a full-time staff person for a building trades union for 20 years, I experienced firsthand the importance of a strong, honest, and respectful relationship between labor and management,” said former Sen. Bakk. “The Iron Ore Alliance is a model that other industries should emulate to foster mutual benefits for both companies and their respective employees.”

“Throughout his career, former Sen. Bakk’s impact on the Iron Range and our way of life has been immeasurable,” said Mike Bakk, director of facilities excellence at U. S. Steel and co-chair of the Iron Ore Alliance. “On his Capitol office desk was a dish of taconite pellets, which he used to educate thousands of visitors about the history and importance of mining and how our lives are so connected to the land. He never forgot where he came from or where the things that sustain life come from – the ground.”