Union Calls Strike at Montana Palladium Mine Over Health and Pay Disputes

The United Steelworkers Union 11-001, representing roughly 420 employees at Stillwater Mine and the Columbus Metallurgical Complex in south-central Montana, announced a strike set for 7 a.m. on Sept. 3 after rejecting several contract proposals from owner Sibanye-Stillwater. Union member Andrew Cameron said the dispute centers on rising health-care costs, higher deductibles, reduced short-term disability benefits and a pay-incentive plan that could penalise injury reporting.

Sibanye-Stillwater’s spokesperson Heather McDowell highlighted a 5% wage increase for 2026 and noted that falling palladium prices have pushed the business to break-even or loss levels, forcing benefit adjustments. The company, which spends about $30 million annually on employee health care in Montana, plans to raise family deductibles from $500 to $1,400 over the next few years. Workers, many of whom face dangerous underground conditions, argue that the proposed changes jeopardise their safety and financial security, prompting the strike despite the risk to their paychecks.