Chumley Chumley:
Are they unionized like the auto workers?
Yes but that's a whole new topic.
Once probably the most radical union in the west,the United mine workers of America.
And after the standoffs with management the mine just shut the doors,the workers lost 30 years of pensions and their jobs.
Now they know how to cooperate,they do work sharing,plan shutdowns to optimize for maintenance and school holidays.
They know no bailout will come.Theres 5 huge open pit strip mines in the elk valley and Teck Cominco owns every one of them now.They can ship and blend coals back and forth between their mines and the workers are now working in any mine instead of just one for life.
But all it takes is for the Chinese to ask for a price reduction and if they dont agree they just wont send the boat.