A group of about 150 leaders of various faiths are calling on Warrior Met Coal to settle its ongoing strike with the United Mine Workers of America, which is still going on after 22 months.

Signed by about 150 people representing several religions, the letter demands the strike end immediately “in an equitable and just manner.”

“The company is causing the suffering of over 800 families who are not able to pay rent, eat properly, take care of their health, buy school items for their children, resulting in workers enduring unnecessary hardships for the last 18 months,” the letter reads.

About 1,100 miners with the United Mine Workers of America walked off the job in Tuscaloosa County back on April 1, 2021, seeking better pay and benefits, more time off and improved scheduling. About 800 people are believed still participating in the strike, which is believed to be the longest in Alabama history.

According to the letter, three groups – the People of the Inter-religious Network for Work Solidarity, the Alabama Poor People’s Campaign and the Southeast Conference United Church of Christ – called on the board of directors of Warrior Met Coal to meet in hopes of ending the strike.

“On December 20th, clergy and faith leaders received a response from the Board of Directors declining our request to meet,” the letter reads. “We understand that your company has stalled in negotiations, repeatedly insisting on egregious conditions that the workers rejected almost two years ago. Just as your largest shareholder, BlackRock, has urged you to end the strike with an agreement that is fair to your workers, we call on you to immediately negotiate a contract that ends the strike and honors your workers.”