Warrior Met Coal and members of the United Mine Workers of America are preparing for about 800 miners to return to work after almost 23 months on strike.

Last week, the union sent a letter to Warrior Met with an unconditional offer to return to work, announcing that union members would return to mines at the company’s four locations on March 2.

The move would allow union members to resume working while the union and Warrior Met work out a new agreement. The date would be 23 months and one day after the strike began, believed to be the longest in Alabama history.

In a statement, Warrior Met Coal said it appreciates the decision to call for members to return to work.

“We have responded to the UMWA and asked for its cooperation and assistance so that we can begin the process for a safe and orderly return to work by those employees who have been on strike and have expressed a desire to return to work,” the company stated.

Each employee is asked to undergo a physical, drug screening, and regulatory safety training.

The company also said it needs “additional information from the UMWA” to begin the process.

“We look forward to the UMWA’s cooperation in these efforts to return the striking miners to work while we continue to negotiate in good faith to reach a new contract,” the company stated.

United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts said in a statement that the union has received a response from the company to its offer to return to work.

“We have replied to the company, asking several questions that we need to know the answers to before we can discuss the next steps with our members and be responsive to the company’s letter,” Roberts said.

There was no explanation of what those questions deal with.

According to The Nation, the company is asking that the union provide a list of miners who will be returning and those who will not. In addition, Warrior Met has stated that 41 miners will not be allowed to return because of conduct related to the strike.

A spokesman for Warrior Met would not comment on the report, citing pending charges from the National Labor Relations Board.

The strike began April 1, 2021, when approximately 1,100 union members walked off the job, seeking better pay and benefits that they say were part of an earlier contract negotiated under Warrior Met’s corporate predecessor.

According to the union, concessions to keep the company afloat were not restored in subsequent contract offers.