Posted on Dec 1, 2022
Alabama coal miners begin their 20th month on strike
375
5
2
4
4
0
https://www.npr.org/2022/12/01/ [login to see] /alabama-coal-miners-strike-20-months
Hundreds of coal miners in Brookwood, Ala., reached a milestone Thursday: They've spent 20 months on strike.
That's well past the six-week average for strikes, according to Bloomberg Law. The miners believe it's the longest strike in Alabama's history.
They have continued demanding their employer, Warrior Met Coal, restore the pay and benefits that were cut in 2016 as a cost-saving measure to keep the mines from shutting down.
Out of the 900 miners who started the strike a year and a half ago, 500 remain, according to United Mine Workers of America. And many of them say, despite missing their six-figure salaries, they're doing just fine. They stick with a classic union catchphrase — they'll last "one day longer" than the company.
Warrior Met has also remained resolute. With negotiations stagnant, the mines have kept operating and earning the company millions in profit.
Here's how the miners — and the company — have survived the strike.
Hundreds of coal miners in Brookwood, Ala., reached a milestone Thursday: They've spent 20 months on strike.
That's well past the six-week average for strikes, according to Bloomberg Law. The miners believe it's the longest strike in Alabama's history.
They have continued demanding their employer, Warrior Met Coal, restore the pay and benefits that were cut in 2016 as a cost-saving measure to keep the mines from shutting down.
Out of the 900 miners who started the strike a year and a half ago, 500 remain, according to United Mine Workers of America. And many of them say, despite missing their six-figure salaries, they're doing just fine. They stick with a classic union catchphrase — they'll last "one day longer" than the company.
Warrior Met has also remained resolute. With negotiations stagnant, the mines have kept operating and earning the company millions in profit.
Here's how the miners — and the company — have survived the strike.
Alabama coal miners begin their 20th month on strike
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Mining and MetalsState of Alabama
Mining and MetalsState of Alabama
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Warrior Met fills jobs with out-of-state workers and strike breakers
The high price of steel right now wouldn't mean much if Warrior Met couldn't find workers to extract that coal.
Some miners have crossed the picket line, simply because giving up a six-figure salary for more than a year-and-a-half is tough. And miners from West Virginia and Pennsylvania volunteering for the union said they've seen Warrior Met recruiting workers in their states, which have plenty of former coal miners thanks to the decline of coal jobs across the country.
Freehling said the fact the company has been able to operate for so long with its current workers is a bad sign for the union – and a clear sign that the stalemate will last well beyond 20 months."
..."Warrior Met fills jobs with out-of-state workers and strike breakers
The high price of steel right now wouldn't mean much if Warrior Met couldn't find workers to extract that coal.
Some miners have crossed the picket line, simply because giving up a six-figure salary for more than a year-and-a-half is tough. And miners from West Virginia and Pennsylvania volunteering for the union said they've seen Warrior Met recruiting workers in their states, which have plenty of former coal miners thanks to the decline of coal jobs across the country.
Freehling said the fact the company has been able to operate for so long with its current workers is a bad sign for the union – and a clear sign that the stalemate will last well beyond 20 months."
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Looks like they strikers no longer have leverage -- time to re-evaluate their stance
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google