Posts tagged strike pay
As Alabama coal miners strike nears end, a look at why it started, and how it failed
March 2, 2023 // After 700 days, hundreds of striking coal miners in Brookwood, Alabama will be returning to work soon — but without the better contract that they’ve been fighting to get. The United Mine Workers of America, the union at the center of the purported longest strike in Alabama’s history, asked Warrior Met Coal to allow the miners to return to work at the company’s four locations starting Thursday. The decision was announced in a Feb. 16 press release. “The status quo is not good for our members and their families,” said UMWA president Cecil Roberts in the statement. “I sincerely hope that Warrior Met leadership will accept this offer, get our members back to work, engage in good faith bargaining and finally sit down face-to-face with us to resolve this dispute for the betterment of all concerned.”
UAW increases strike pay for members as union’s negotiations with Caterpillar continue
February 23, 2023 // The United Auto Workers international executive board is increasing strike pay for members from $400 to $500 per week. This comes as the UAW continues negotiating with Caterpillar for a new contract for workers in the Peoria area, Decatur, Pontiac, and York, Pennsylvania. UAW president Ray Curry says increasing strike pay gives employers notice of the union's high expectations as they head into bargaining.
UAW Accused of “Threatening and Intimidating” Members at Constitutional Convention
August 5, 2022 // But reports show that attendees who questioned the union’s status quo were heckled, intimidated or drowned out. The main issue that arose between leadership and attendees was that the UAW did not want to increase pay for striking workers. The vote to raise strike pay passed initially, but UAW leaders then put it up for a reversal vote after many members had already left the convention, allowing the policy to be reversed before it ever took effect. Union leaders also pulled the same trick to give themselves raises after the vote was first denied. “Our leaders … do not represent the rank-and-file members of our union. They represent the interests of staff and leadership. They represent the interests of their friends,” said Daniel Vicente of Local 644. “They absolutely robbed us again. We’ve been robbed by the people in prison; we’re getting robbed by these leaders here.” Daniel Vicente of Local 644, Scott Houldieson,