Adam Keller, co-host and co-producer of The Valley Labor Report, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and shared his thoughts on the end of the longest strike in the history of Alabama.
Keller gave an overview of the Warrior Met Coal strike, which took place in Brookwood, Ala. The strike began on April 1, 2021, as roughly 1,000 United Mine Workers of America did not want to take a proposed 20 percent pay cut and lose other benefits. After almost 23 months on the picket line, the strike ended with the UMWA conceding to the company. The striking miners received no assistance or support from President Joe Biden or former Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Keller added.
The reason why the UMWA agreed to end the strike included the fact Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey ordered state troopers to escort scabs to and from the mine. Furthermore, he feels the ruling of local judges infringed upon the rights of free speech and picketing regulations.
Keller then spoke about a new weekly podcast he launched called Shop Talk. The main goal of these episodes is to educate listeners by getting union officers to pass down the information to their subordinates while also educating listeners about the Southern labor movement.
He also discussed a successful campaign by Teamsters Local 402 that organized over 200 school bus drivers.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics.