DSA for the Miners!

This fundraiser, led by chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America  across the South, will support the UMWA Auxiliary for the UMWA locals on strike in Brookwood, Alabama.

On April 1, 2021, roughly 1,100 coal miners with the United Mineworkers of America at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, went on an unfair labor practices strike over Warrior Met’s refusal to negotiate a contract renewal in good faith. The miners have been on strike for 10 months now, making this the longest strike in Alabama history. On January 26, 2022, the miners crossed Day 300 of the strike.

 

The struggle of the UMWA miners must be the struggle of DSA members, chapters, and labor supporters everywhere, particularly in the Southern United States, where right-to-work laws and business-driven politics continue to threaten the rights of workers to organize, unionize, and live dignified lives at work. DSA chapters across the country have responded in force to strike actions during 2021, and we must show overwhelming solidarity and support for the UMWA miners in Brookwood.

 

The UMWA Auxiliary, led by family members of the strikers, has organized the community support effort to supplement the union's strike pay, establishing the strike pantry and weekly grocery packs for families, providing clothing for families through all four seasons, fundraising for holiday gifts, and meeting individual needs for families on strike.

Due to difficulties with setting up deposits directly with the UMWA Auxiliary bank account, we will be withdrawing funds directly to the bank account of one of our chapter's members, and they will write to the UMWA Auxiliary for the full amount raised. The Auxiliary will use the funds raised to further support miners and their families on strike.