2021-2023 Warrior Met Coal strike

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The 2021–2023 Warrior Met Coal strike was a targeted labor strike carried out by approximately 1,100 workers at Warrior Met Coal organized under the UMWA Local No. 2397 in Brookwood. The walk-out began on April 1, 2021 with approximately 1,100 workers participating. About 800 members were still striking when UMWA International called for an unconditional return to work on March 2, 2023, without having reached an agreement on a new labor contract.

The strike was planned in response to the company's contract proposal. Miners recalled making concessions to help keep the mine operating when Warrior Met Coal declared bankruptcy in 2016. Though the company had returned to profitability, it only partially restored those concessions in their offer. For example, miners saw wages drop by $6 an hour, but were offered only a $1.50/hour raise, which would be implemented over 5 years. Workers voted to insist on restoring their full pay and fully funding their existing health insurance plans. Warrior Met Coal rejected those terms and continued to operate, relying on non-Union workers and on stockpiles of mined coal it had built up before the former contract expired.

Union members rejected a tentative deal in early April and the strike continued into June. In May 11 picketers were arrested and charged with trespassing at the gate entrance to the No. 7 Mine. On June 22 UMWA president Cecil Roberts was joined by 14 Brookwood miners to picket outside the offices of BlackRock Fund Advisors, State Street Global Advisors, and Renaissance Technologies in Manhattan. They were joined by supporters from the RWDSU and the Association of Flight Attendants. The picketing outside BlackRock's offices at 40 East 52nd Street in New York City was repeated on July 28, with hundreds of participants. In August a rally held at Brookwood Ballpark brought around 2,000 people supporting the striking workers.

In June 2022 the UMWA voted unanimously for a resolution in support of continuing the strike.

On three occasions company officials reported damage to electrical transmission and distribution equipment at the mine. The Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incidents. The UMWA said it did not condone any type of violence or sabotage. In September the union complained about the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency escorting buses of scabs past the picket line. In October both union and company representatives complained about escalating vandalism and violence. On October 27 Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court Judge James Roberts Jr issued a restraining order prohibiting picketing "or other activity" within 300 feet of any of Warrior Met Coal's 12 locations in the county, and also prohibits, "in any manner interfering with, hindering or obstructing, by threats, intimidation or acts of violence, the conduct and operation of Warrior's business and supporting activities," until November 5.

In its August 4, 2021 quarterly report, Warrior Met Coal announced that the strike had cost the company around $7 million. It idled Mine No. 4 and significantly limited production at Mine No. 7. In its November 2 quarterly report, the company reported increased revenues, largely due to price escalations, resulting in a net income of $38.4 million, despite a 42% reduction on output compared to the same period in 2020. The company estimated direct expenses due to "business interruption", including negotiators and security, at $6.9 million. It also reported "idle mine expenses" of $9.3 million.

On March 24, 2022 a natural gas pipeline owned by Warrior Met Coal was damaged, apparently by an explosive placed near it off of Hannah Creek Road in eastern Tuscaloosa County. The company offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. In June the parties agreed to enter into negotiations to settle the damage claims. On July 22 NLRB Region 10 sent out an assessment of $13.3 million to be paid by the union, an amount which included increased security, increased labor costs, barriers, security cameras, vehicle damage and lost revenues. On appeal, the board revised their assessment to $435,000, plus interest, an amount which the UMWA agreed to pay.

Also during the strike, Warrior Met Coal was found to have allowed pollutants to drain into Texas Creek from its coal preparation plant.

The company declined to meet with representatives of the Interreligious Network for Worker Solidarity, the Alabama Poor People's Campaign and the Southeast Conference United Church of Christ who sought to lobby for restarting negotiations with miners.

For the 4th quarter of 2022, Warrior Met Coal missed its expecting earnings by over $100 million, a 40% decline in earnings compared to the 4th quarter of 2021, but was able to meet production targets. By early 2023, Warrior Met Coal was luring some workers back and recruiting others from other areas with offers of bonus pay of up to $2,000 more a month than had been offered in the proposed labor contract. In all it was estimated that about 150 members of the union crossed picket lines to resume work.

On February 16 UMWA International president Cecil Roberts issued an "unconditional offer to return to work," observing that the 23-month strike had not been successful in forcing Warrior Met Coal to negotiate, and that, "the status quo is not good for our members and their families." The 800 or so strikers still involved in the labor action were instructed to return to their jobs. Warrior Met Coal accepted the offer, stipulating that all rehired employees would need to pass a physical examination and drug screen, and retake safety training programs. Between 100 to 250 union workers returned to Warrior Met Coal following the UMWA offer. 41 miners were not accepted for re-employment due what the company deemed to be misconduct during the strike. In the interim, pay scale for all positions was increased by $1 per hour and the mine went from three 8-hour shifts to two 12-hour shifts per day.

In April 2023 a petition begun by a non-Union member was presented to the NLRB requesting a vote to decertify the representation of Warrior Met Coal workers by the United Mine Workers of America. In June 2023 National Labor Relations Board Judge Melissa Oliverio ruled that Warrior Met Coal had violated U.S. labor laws by withholding information regarding its ability to pay increased wages from union negotiators. NLRB Region 10 Director Lisa Henderson rejected that petition due to the reports of unfair practices.

References

  • Thornton, William (April 12, 2021) "Alabama coal mine strike continues after union rejects offer." The Birmingham News
  • "Nearly a dozen striking Alabama coal miners arrested at protest." (May 26, 2021) Associated Press/The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (June 7, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners endure arrests, see little progress: 'We're just standing together'." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (June 9, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners say they are targets for picket line violence." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (June 22, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners take protest to Wall Street." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (June 29, 2021) "Equipment damaged at Alabama coal mine where workers are striking, $10,000 reward offered." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (July 26, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners taking protest back to New York." The Birmingham News
  • "2021 Warrior Met Coal strike (July 14, 2021) Wikipedia - accessed July 27, 2021
  • Thornton, William (August 4, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners draw strength from thousands at rally: ‘We’re not asking for much’." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (August 5, 2021) "Miners strike cost Warrior Met Coal $7 million in second quarter, company says." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (September 17, 2021) "Alabama troopers escort workers past striking coal miners ‘like they’re working for the company,’ union says." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (October 25, 2021) "Warrior Met Coal says picket line violence has reached ‘dangerous level’." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (October 28, 2021) "Alabama judge orders stop to picketing at Warrior Met Coal." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (November 2, 2021) "Warrior Met Coal strike has cost company $6.9 million." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (November 4, 2021) "Striking Alabama coal miners protesting again in New York." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (February 17, 2022) "Warrior Met Coal strikers ‘keep this company profitable,’ union president tells US Senate." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (March 24, 2022) "FBI investigating explosive device attack on Warrior Met Coal pipeline." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (March 31, 2022) "Warrior Met Coal strike reaches one year mark, possibly longest in Alabama history: ‘We didn’t want to do this’." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (May 4, 2022) "Warrior Met Coal’s largest shareholder: Time to resolve yearlong Alabama miner strike." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (June 17, 2022) "UWMA pledges full support for 15-month Alabama miners’ strike." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (August 3, 2022) "Striking Alabama coal miners refuse to pay $13.3 million in ordered damages." The Birmingham News
  • Thornton, William (September 19, 2022) "Striking Alabama coal miners to pay $435,000 in damages." The Birmingham News
  • Bisaha, Stephan (December 1, 2022) "Alabama coal miners begin their 20th month on strike" WBHM.org
  • Thornton, William (February 1, 2023) "Interfaith group calls on Warrior Met Coal to end 22-month miner’s strike." AL.com
  • "Warrior Met Coal Inc Down 0.10% To $39.91 After Earnings Miss." (February 16, 2023) InvestorsObserver
  • Thornton, William (February 16, 2023) "Union tells striking Warrior Met Coal miners to return to work." AL.com
  • Thornton, William (February 20, 2023) "After Alabama’s longest strike, Warrior Met Coal workers prepare to return to mines." AL.com
  • Kelly, Kim (February 20, 2023) "Why the Warrior Met Strike Is Ending." The Nation
  • Thornton, William (March 2, 2023) "Warrior Met Coal miners return to work today after historic Alabama strike." AL.com
  • Thornton, William (June 30, 2023) "Warrior Met Coal violated labor law during Alabama miner’s strike, judge rules." AL.com
  • Thornton, William (September 11, 2023) "Inside Alabama’s longest strike: Warrior Met Coal and union’s ugly fight detailed in new documents." AL.com
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