Alabama mining strike ends without a deal

Hundreds of coal miners in Alabama have been told by their union that they can start returning to work before a contract deal has been reached, bringing an unceremonious end to one of the longest mining strikes in U.S. history.

The move by the United Mine Workers of Americato conclude its nearly two-year work stoppage is a blow to the union, a storied and powerful labor organization, which has been pushing for higher pay and improved working conditions at the Warrior Met Coal mine, near Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Negotiating sessions became more infrequent in recent months, and “it didn’t seem like the strike was going in the direction it needed to be,” said Larry Spencer, a vice president of the United Mine Workers of America, who helped lead the Alabama strike.

Roughly 900 miners went out on strike April 1, 2021, and most were able to start the process of returning to the mine this week. Some unionized workers had crossed the picket line and returned to work already, while others took jobs at other companies.

A spokesperson for Warrior Met said the company was working to ensure “a seamless return to work for our striking miners.” Probably the biggest factor undermining the strike was the price of coal, which soared over the course of the walkout. Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, said the company was able to profitably operate the mine with relatively few nonunion replacement workers because of high coal prices. Roberts said he expected coal prices to stay high for the foreseeable future, which could have forced the strike to drag on.

In 2022, the strike’s first full year, Warrior Met’s annual profits rose to $641 million from $150 million in 2021; its stock price soared 143% during the 23-month strike.

To attract the nonunion workers, Warrior Met has been paying large bonuses of $1,900 and annual salaries of $132,000.

The union expects contract negotiations to resume in the coming weeks.