My dad was a coal miner for 40 years and he was totally disgusted with the union. The UMWA would cut of it’s nose to spite it’s face. The would go on strike for the dumbest things. Probably the worst thing he told me was that they went on strike because there was no soap in the showers.
He hated the union, but you had to tow the line if you wanted to work. This was back in the 50’s and 60’s. It appears that not much has changed.
Some things have changed: There are less jobs in the coal industry.