Westmoreland Coal Company

Before Westmoreland the morale between the union workers and management was good.  
Right now the morale is shot, and it is hard to describe until you are there.
You are damned if you do anything right and damned if you do something wrong.  Too many chiefs looking over and not really fixing the problems.  A lot of decisions add more to the problems and a messed up work load.  
Like I mentioned before Westmoreland was a very decent place to work.
Shift schedule was good every other weekend off (good work and home life balance) just when you are there the moment you get there you want to figure out how to leave.
It seems as though they would like to have more down time on equipment than get the parts needed right away (and in most cases parts are located right in town but can't seem to let anyone go to get them on a timely manner, and if you do you can get reprimanded for doing so)
The money looks appealing but the headache and stress that you will accumulate on yourself is it worth it.

-Great place to learn how to operate.
Trainers were very experienced operators who moved into management, informational.
-Night Shift and dayshift rotation were much to close apart, sometimes tired was the hardest part.
-Got along with all the co workers, knew some of them as well from before, if you ask questions they would tell exactly what to do.
-Wondered why we had to move stockpiles a few times (engineer) 
*I actually started building a dam with 2 engineers, a fellow operator and myself. Used pumps and did compaction tests with him, sprayed water when needed for about a month, and started my operating career on a packer.*
A+Experience.

Decent place to work, pay is outstanding for home every night type of work. Approachable management for the most part, HR is helpful, equipment is in decent shape, good safety program. 
Only real main negative point was the approach to covid and vaccine measures. There was coercion, discrimination and a threatening stance surrounding people's personal health choices/restrictions. They bent at the knee as did most companies. The whole world was spun out around that time though. 
All in all, a good company, very dynamic and able to roll with the changing world the best way they can. 

Westmoreland took over the previous employer so I had no interview. After 19 years at this mine , myself and 4 other senior employees where let go and 6 under 5 year employees were kept. Our payout of one month per year to a max of  12 months pay was promised but abolished at layoff time and reduced to 4 months. The managers retained there 2 year payouts while this happened though.  All of us senior employees where within 1.5 years of retirement,  the junior employees are in there second year since we had been let go. So good luck.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Quitting was the best part of this job

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Management and people lying horrible no fairness

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Not good at all, fake smiles, buddies all around

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Regret, only appreciation is for yourself

I learned a lot working here, loved the job.  Everyone was friendly and easy to work with, very helpful when needed.  The atmosphere was always good, cheerful nice people.  If I ever had a question someone was always willing to help answer.  Lots of opportunities to learn and grow with the company.  I was covering a Maternity leave at the time of my employment there and would love to be hired back at some point.  Great workplace, Great people.

I really enjoyed working at Westmoreland but the problem was the coal industry in Alberta is bein phased out. I really liked the culture here and it was fast-paced but at the same time you were compensated and there was work-life balance. I enjoyed the people here as they have strong management and my Manager here was great and very supportive.

Overall the equipment is maintained and there is opportunity to expand your skills on different machines however there is a significant dead spot in communication between management and workers. The frustration is reflected in the morale.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Location and pay, poor management and HR

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The management and night shifts

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Environment was good, unfortunately I had a terrible manager that caused me to go on stress leave

A lot to learn. All the equipment, specific job tasks, duties, machine checks and responsibilities. The one thing I’ll remember most was the power of the Dragline’s. To sit back and watch them work they seem to effortlessly move mountains.  But when it came time for routine Maintenace or repairs the weight of everything was incredible.

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