UAW Local 2195

RETIREE MEETING

MONDAY 11:00 am JUNE 12

Post 15 American Legion Hall

Decatur, AL

RETIREE_MEETING_UAW_

May 8-Monday 11:00 am

American Legion Post 15

Decatur, AL

 

February Retiree Meeting

Monday 13, 11;00 am

American Legion Post 15

Hwy 31, Decatur, AL

RETIREE MEETING, NOVEMBER 14

Monday 11:00 am
American Legion Post 15
Decatur, AL Hwy 31

Take Action

UMWA Rally
August 4th 
10:00 AM
Brookwood Town Park
15689 Al-216 
Any and all support is appreciated, financial or dry food, can goods or products for school children.

The United Mine Workers of America Local has been on strike since April 1, 2021 at Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama, just outside of Tuscaloosa. The workers walked off the job after their contract expired and the membership voted down the tentative agreement that had been proposed.

In 2016 the local union agreed to concessions to help the previous owner of the mine during a time of bankruptcy. The mine sold with the promise the workers would be rewarded for their sacrifice. While the pandemic impacted the coal industry just like everything else, CEO Walter J. Scheller, III says the company is, ​“strongly capitalized and well-positioned to restart our growth trajectory.”

To complicate things for the striking miners, the new owners are a group of Hedge Funds. United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts stated the concessions of the miners saved the new company $1.1 billion dollars. In the past five years the company has made another 3.4 billion dollars most of which flowed back to the hedge fund investors.

The new owner’s contract offer would have restored the workers back to their 2015 pay, still leaving them six years behind in compensation. To add insult to injury management gave managers a $35,000 bonus earlier this year after the miners had worked 16 hour shifts and seven day weeks during the pandemic to keep the coal moving for steel production.

The new owners brought in replacement workers to try and keep the mine running to break the strike. The workers have also been targets of violence as several strikers have been struck by vehicles in deliberate attacks on the union members.

This is simply one more infuriating story if “wealthy investors” swooping in and taking money of the pockets of the workers and putting it in their own pocket. The coal this mine produces is used for steel production and does 2000 feet in the ground with, with miners having to travel up to ten miles underground to reach the coal face. It is the miners who risk their lives miles underground, 16 hours a day, seven days a week to remove this coal, while hedge fund managers and their investors occupy high rise offices on Wall Street and have enjoy fancy dinners and mansions off the blood and sweat of the miners.

 A rally for the strikers is being planned for Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at10AM at the Brookwood Town Park. These families are hurting and they need our help. Retiree Chair Chuck McDonald is planning on attending the rally and would love to have company. Plus any donation of canned food, school supplies or financial donations would be appreciated.

For more information, contact Chuck McDonald by calling the local number 256-353-7893 and leaving a message or emailing Chuck at [email protected].

Hedge Fund managers and Real Estate Developers have raided the pockets of workers for generations. If you remember it was Ann Romney’s hedge fund, wife of Mitt Romney, that bought up Delphi Stock for pennies on the dollar and then wanted full value of the stock, threatening to starve GM for parts until they gave the hedge fund the money GM owed Delphi workers. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

By John Davis

UAW Blog

Recent News

Retiree Meeting Local 2195

Monday Oct. 10, 2022 11:00 am

American Legion Post 15 Hwy 31 Decatur, AL

Brother and Sisters, I'm going to make this short:

Our Union is at an important cross-road.  We are engaged in a major change that could have serious implication for the future of our great Union, both for active and retired workers.

August 20, 2022

September UAW Local 2195 Retiree Meeting
September 12, Monday 11:00 am
Post 15 American Legion Post Decatur, AL

Hopefully this finds everyone well and ready to start back our Retiree Meetings after and enjoyable summer break.

Our next two meetings are going to be very important and should be of great interest to you.  At our September meeting, we will be going over the election rules that will govern the election of our International Executive Board and our Region 8 Director.

RETIREE MEETING 
Monday June 13
11:00 am
American Legion Hall Post 15
Decatur, AL  
2607 Hwy 31

Hopefully everyone is doing well and enjoying the warm weather, June is a great time for many events like high school and college graduations as well as the many families events that are normally scheduled this time of the year.

Our June meeting will be the last one of the schedule events this period we will once again start our Retiree meetings back in September.