Judge Orders End to Wildcat Coal Mine Strikes, Says They’re Illegal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. —  A federal judge on Tuesday ordered an end to wildcat strikes by nearly 43,000 coal miners in nine states, saying they are violating U.S. labor law.

U.S. District Judge Dennis Knapp said the walkout by United Mine Workers members violated National Labor Relations Act guidelines against secondary boycotts. The walkout began June 12 in support of 1,900 UMW members who went on strike April 5 against the Pittston Coal Group after working for 14 months without a contract.

Knapp issued a temporary injunction at the request of the National Labor Relations Board. The judge stopped short of forcing the miners back on the job, but said union officials must report to the NLRB within 10 days on what steps they have taken to meet the court order.

UMW President Richard L. Trumka said union officials “do not believe an injunction is warranted in this case.”

“These work stoppages are not sanctioned by the union and the international has requested the affected members to return to work,” Trumka said in a prepared statement. “We will take the necessary steps to comply with the court’s order as we review the next legal steps.”

Knapp ordered the UMW to stop any activities that might cause miners to continue to strike and to halt any threats or coercion against the coal companies.

He also told the UMW to inform miners that union officials have no objection to their return to work, and that miners would not be disciplined by the union for resuming work.

There were no immediate reports of strikers heeding the order. But most began their two-week vacations this week, and the coal fields have been relatively quiet since the weekend.