By William Thornton

September 19, 2021 - Members of the United Mine Workers of America are calling attention to the use of the Highway Patrol Division of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency along the picket line at Warrior Met Coal in Tuscaloosa County.

More than 1,000 members of the union have been on strike against Warrior Met Coal since April 1, picketing for higher pay and benefits.

Union members say the use of troopers to escort workers past the picket line “just looks like they’re working for the company,” UMWA spokesman Phil Smith said. “There haven’t been any reason to be concerned about the buses going back and forth. It just looks like the company doesn’t need to hire its own security guards.”

ALEA spokeswoman Robyn Bryan said Warrior Met Coal approached ALEA when the strike began “relative to safety concerns for both their employees and citizens within the area.”

“As a result, ALEA conducted an assessment and developed and implemented a plan to provide public safety to everyone involved,” Bryan said.

“Currently, we are providing an escort for employees to safely travel to and from their designated work area within all Met Coal facilities and company mines. In addition to providing traffic control, ALEA Troopers have been tasked with averting damage to property and vehicles. We are committed to providing public safety for all citizens within the area as well as protecting those who may be simply passing through.”

Warrior Met Coal emerged from the bankruptcy proceedings of the former Walter Energy, which declared bankruptcy in 2016. Union members say they made numerous concessions in pay, benefits, holidays, overtime - amounting to $1.1 billion - and in other areas at that time to keep the company going and get it out of bankruptcy.

In May, nearly a dozen miners were arrested during a protest outside a mine. Striking miners in June reported at least three instances of violence along picket lines. Warrior Met Coal said in June it was granted a court-ordered injunction to maintain a safe environment for its employees, “including those actively at work and those currently on strike.”

Smith said the union and company continue to have “sporadic talks” about bringing the strike, now in its sixth month, to an end.

“We’ve exchanged proposals with the company,” Smith said. “But nothing indicates any positive movement.”