FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL
12, 2021
UMWA
to begin Warrior Met Unity Rallies, pay strike benefits
[MCCALLA, ALA.] The International Executive Board of
the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International union held a special
meeting today to discuss the strike at Warrior Met, Inc., by around 1,000
members of the UMWA in Alabama.
“The Warrior Met miners have overwhelmingly voted to continue this strike,”
UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “The union is mobilizing
its entire resources to support them.”
The UMWA Board reiterated its support
for the strike, including unanimously supporting President Roberts’ decision to
call the strike on April 1, the vote of the membership to continue the strike
on April 9, and the efforts of the Union’s negotiating committee led by
International Secretary-Treasurer Levi Allen.
Roberts announced the union will
begin holding “Unity Rallies” in the Brookwood, Ala., area for members,
families and community supporters to build solidarity and hear from local and
national allies. The union is also contributing $50,000 to establishing a
relief fund for workers and families. Details for those wishing to contribute
to that fund will be available later this week on the UMWA’s website, www.umwa.org.
Later this week, the union will pay
roughly $600,000 in the first wave of bi-weekly strike benefits to dues-paying
members who have participated in strike activity. The union has also purchased
health care insurance for striking members and families.
###
