04-21-06,9:05am
Every year on April 28, Workers Memorial Day, the union movement honors workers who have been hurt or killed on the job and recommits to the fight for safe workplaces. This year began with a terrible workplace tragedy, the explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia that claimed the lives of 12 miners. A total of 24 coal miners have died on the job already in 2006, making it crystal clear we need strong protection for our miners.
As oil prices soar, pressure is on to produce more coal. As the coal mines kick into high gear, we have to protect the workers who are working for us. Let’s make sure there are no more Sagos. Contact your U.S. senators and representative today and ask them to support real reform to our mine safety laws.
It’s no coincidence that we’ve seen a rash of mining fatalities this year. The Bush administration has put our nation’s coal miners in danger by killing 17 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) safety rules, including measures on mine rescue teams and emergency oxygen. These rules might have helped the miners at Sago. The administration also weakened mine ventilation standards and allowed coal conveyer belt shafts to be used as a source of air, a dangerous practice that had been prohibited by the Mine Act.
What’s more, President George W. Bush has consistently put mine bosses and industry executives in charge of MSHA. His administration has failed to punish mining companies for safety violations, levying insignificant fines when companies put their workers in danger.
Two bills proposed in Congress (H.R. 4695/S. 2231 and S. 2308) would take immediate steps to protect the nation’s coal miners, including:
Requiring immediate notification of accidents and rapid emergency response. Requiring new, stronger standards on mine rescue teams, communications, tracking devices and oxygen availability for mine emergencies.
Setting mandatory minimum penalties for egregious and repeated violations.
Prohibiting the use of conveyor belts to ventilate work areas. Please urge Congress to do the right thing. And click here to find out more about Workers Memorial Day.
Note to D.C.-area folks: On Wednesday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m., the AFL-CIO is hosting a discussion on mine safety with Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts and photojournalist Earl Dotter. The photo exhibit “Our Future in Retrospect? Coal Miner Health in Appalachia” will be on display, combining Dotter’s present-day look at health and safety issues in America’s coalfields with Russell W. Lee’s 1946 documentary photography on the hardships of coal communities. We’re at 815 16th St., N.W. (near the Farragut North and McPherson Square Metro stations). If you would like to attend, please RSVP to 202-637-5029.
