United Mine Workers District 2 Representative Casey Mullooly appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and talked about the nearly 1-year strike between mine workers and Warrior Met Coal.
Mullooly said union leaders and the company are currently in negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, an optimistic development. Until recently, management had refused to negotiate. UMW representatives hope to take some positive steps toward a new contract soon, he added.
In 2015, the former owner of the mine went bankrupt and in 2016, workers agreed to a new CBA with new owner Warrior Met. The CBA brought the company out of bankruptcy, as the union accepted several concessions, including a $6-an-hour pay cut and reductions in health insurance and other benefits, Mullooly said. The company promised to return those wages when it became profitable, but failed to do so, despite reporting billions of dollars in revenue he said.
Mullooly also spoke about the history of the labor movement in America, as well as the current work climate for United Mine Workers. Work continues to look positive, thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, he said.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: