He compares this year's string of refinery shutdowns to the California electricity crunch six years ago, when some power-plant operators deliberately idled plants in order to drive up the price.
In September, the striking miners, who were mostly rock-drill operators, agreed to return to work after a six-week stoppage, accepting a pay rise of up to 22%.
Jim English, who works with a group of 17 vending-machine operators, says that their interchange fees have jumped from roughly six or seven cents a transaction to the federally regulated 21 cents.