Up to 17,500 miners on strike in seven states are returning to work after approving a five-year contract with some of the nation's biggest coal companies.
"It helps to know that we got a job, so what little money we have we can spend it before Christmas," said James Parsons, a 55-year-old miner from Foster.About 65 percent of eligible miners voted Tuesday in favor of the contract, which ends a seven-month walkout. An estimated 60,000 members of the United Mine Workers union were eligible to vote.
The union won its key demand, guaranteed access to future jobs. Without that, the union said, its members face widespread unemployment in the next seven to 10 years, the average remaining life span of most UMW mines.
"Our members can go back to the mines with their heads held high, knowing that we beat the odds and won a strong contract that guarantees our right to job opportunities," United Mine Workers President Richard Trumka said.
The contract was worked out last week during talks overseen by a special mediator appointed by Labor Secretary Robert Reich.
The miners are expected to begin reporting for work with tonight's midnight shift.
Tom Hoffman, a spokesman for the companies, said union members will be recalled mine by mine as each company gears up for full production.