IRON MOUNTAIN -- Job growth slowed significantly in June, raising the national unemployment to 9.2 percent, but locally the pinch isn't being felt on the same scale.
Local 1329 Labor Union in Iron Mountain has about 10 percent unemployment which is average for the union this time of year.
A majority of the work has come from mining projects like Kennecott and state road construction.
While numbers have stabilized somewhat, Union Representative Joe Gallino is concerned about state cuts coming next year and how they will affect his crew.
"Next year we're going to see very high unemployment on our road construction," said Gallino. "Hopefully some of these other projects, like the mine, will pick up some of the slack, but I expect a very tough year next year."
Gallino says 70 to 80 of the union's 600 members could be affected by the cuts.
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