Striking coal miners rally, reach out for solidarity By Susan Lamont May 24, 2021
United Mine Workers of America Striking coal miners and supporters join together at weekly rally May 5 in McCalla, Alabama.
MCCALLA, Ala. A third weekly solidarity rally for 1,100 United Mine Workers of America union members on strike at Warrior Met Coal in nearby Brookwood drew several hundred miners, family members, union retirees and other supporters to Tannehill State Park here May 5. The strike has entered its second month.
UMWA coal miners who work at Warrior Met’s two underground mines, coal preparation plant and central shop struck April 1 when their contract expired. They’re fighting to regain ground lost in 2016 when major concessions in wages, benefits and working conditions were forced on the union. Jim Walter Resources, the former owner, went belly up and its creditors used a federal bankruptcy court to demand union concessi