For a long time I have noticed folks on the side of highway 216 in Brookwood, sometimes in large numbers. Does anyone here know the details? If it’s been discussed here or on the news, I missed it.

Rich investors in Jim Walter Resources forced the company into bankruptcy and acquired the assets of the company. Coal miners' "lifetime" health and retirement benefits were voided by the court.

Investors reopened the mine under the name of Warrior Met. Hired coal miners at much lower wages and fewer benefits. Make huge profits.

Coal miners want their fair share. Rich investors unwilling to share.

Standoff.

I worked in the coal industry for 8 years before being laid off and choosing not to go back once I was called, since I had found something better. So, I’ve got friends on both sides of the strike. They both make really good points. I just keep my opinion to myself. I just figure it’s like everything else, there’s three sides to every story. Miner’s side, company side, and the truth in the middle.

Thanks

Wjy strike, just leave and go do something else? If the company has 0 employees they will close or pay what it takes yo get employees. A strike just seems like a bunch of talk, walk instead

Actually the u ion was back in when they reopened. But it is new contract time and both sides not giving any, I’m sure warrior met wants to get rid of the Union but nothing in writing yet. So they are striking to get what they want on the new contract. My son works there and was in the Union. Had a couple issues come up with management and they would not back him so he got out.

Goes back to my question. It’s 2021 why are unions even still in existence. Seems like a bunch of crybaby attention whores to me

The problem for the union with the strike right now is the company is actually producing more coal without the union workers than with. I’m sure someone will dispute this but I know a guy that’s directly a part of recording the production.

Exactly. It seems more profitable to just go somewhere else and earn a paycheck than stand around with a sign in your hand.

Job hopping is a choice for sure, but long term employment has its benefits for both workers and employers.

When employees invest several years of their lives working in extremely dangerous conditions and the company benefits from their increased productivity due to the added experience and increased skill levels of those long term workers, then it's only fair for those workers to be compensated accordingly. Strikes are tools in deciding what's fair compensation and what's not fair.

On the other hand, companies are free to hire job hoppers and deal with the consequences of their policy. Job hoppers may find it difficult to find work if their applications indicate they won't stick around when things don't go their way. If it's extremely dangerous work, then they may not live long if they do get hired.

Unions have outlived their usefulness, for the most part they only protect the sorry workers and the good workers get overworked compensating for the sorry ones until they become sorry. Most of them argue for insurance and wages that are non existence in todays work force. With the rising costs of insurance a company that pays 100% insurance likely won't be in business long. I have worked in a Union mill and the mill I currently work in a non union mill (same industry) and make better money with better benefits.

The only reason you’re making “Better” is to keep the Union out. Good companies don’t need Unions but there are fewer and fewer good companies. It’s known as the pendulum effect.

Whatever the reason it proves a union is not necessary.

The thousands of retired coal miners across the country who lost their pensions and health coverage in the bankruptcy schemes of rich investors who never saw the inside of a coal mine might disagree. Their union worked diligently with Congress to come up with a plan to restore those benefits that would otherwise have been lost forever.

Couldn’t agree more. Work the job you agreed to do when hired or go get another one.

I’ve had a couple of the guys I know call wanting to know if I’d work them and pay them cash while they’re on strike, I toldem I wouldn’t givem a job for any reason, I don’t need they’re whining ass thinking they oughta be running my business in the ground and whining about having to get off their sorry ass to earn a check.

I won’t ever give anyone a job knowing they’ve had any association with a union. I’d rather her pay my part of the food stamps to feed their kids than to know I supported the same entitlement mentality willingly

You keep throwing that “rich investors” out there like you think you’d get a better job working for a poor one.

I ain’t never had no luck working for a poor man

Depending completely how someone else handles your retirement is stupid, kinda like paying in 40 times more than you could ever draw back into social security expecting it to turn out only with social security you have limited choices

Hoggin dropping truth bombs. Facts.

I couldnt agree more with you two. Unions are all dem supporters too. Screw them.

False assumptions don't add up to facts.