On April 28, 2010, the annual observation of Worker’s Memorial Day was held across the country. Since 1989 Workers Memorial Day has been observed by the unions of the AFL-CIO to bring public awareness to the fact that each year thousands of workers die on the job while millions more are injured.
Usually Worker’s Memorial Day is punctuated with facts and figures about on that year’s job deaths and accidents to make the point that work remains to insure safe workplaces. However, the recent mining disaster at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia drives the message home better than statistics. A total of 29 miners lost their lives on April 5, 2010 when an explosion rocked the mine. Today those 29 families stare at an empty place when sitting down to eat; they feel the loss and the emptiness as a nation mourns with them.
Massey CEO Don Blankenship appeared emotional on TV discussing the tragedy. But his actions prior speak  more to his character. Since 1995 the mine had been cited for 3007 violations and fined 2.2 million dollars. In March of this year, 53 new violations were issued by the MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration). Of the over two million in fines, Massey has only paid $791,327 while contesting the remaining 1.1 million in fines.
Massey CEO and U.S. Chamber of Commerce National Board Member Don Blankenship is well known for his opposition to the MSHA and safety regulations. Blankenship was caught on tape threatening to shoot a report with ABC in 2008 according to news outlet Think Progress, ranting that his critics were “communists,” “atheists,” and “greeniacs.”
On September 07, 2009 Blankenship spent one million dollars to put on the “Friends of America” concert In Holden, West Virginia that features Ted Nugent, Hank Williams, Jr., John Rich and Fox News Host Sean Hannity. The purpose of the concert was to fight global warming and safety measures dictated by the MSHA. At his Labor Day anti-union rally last year, Massey CEO Don Blankenship attacked the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), claiming it “seeks power over coal miners.” He mocked both “Washington politicians” and local elected officials who attempt to ensure miner safety, calling their efforts “as silly as global warming”. Immediately after the explosion Massey stated the MSHA had declared the mine “was safe” knowing full well less than a month before the mine had been issued 53 new violations including ventilation issues.
While Sean Hannity and Ted Nugent (both Fox News darlings) were on hand to back Blankenship up on his claims of “government overstepping their reach” on Labor Day last year, where were they to take credit for this tragedy? It appears the government did know better when it came to mine safety while Massey and CEP Blankenship appear to have disregarded the safety of their employees.
Following the tragedy Corporate America’s private spokesman Rush Limbaugh stated “Was there no union responsibility for improving mine safety? Where was the union here? Where was the union? The union is generally holding these companies up demanding all kinds of safety. Why were these miners continuing to work in what apparently was an unsafe atmosphere?” Limbaugh essentially shifted the blame to the union for the tragedy. However there is a flaw in his logic: the workers at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine were NOT represented by a union. Three times the United Mine Workers tried to organize the workers at Big Branch – having 70% sign cards stating they wanted a union. But before elections for union representation were held – Blankenship reportedly met with workers and threatened to close the mine down if they voted in the union. As a matter of fact, it has been reported that it was Blankenship’s union busting that facilitated his climb up the corporate ranks at Massey to CEO. Blankenship is quoted as saying that “busting unions” is invaluable to corporate profits because non-union companies can “sell coal cheaper” and run “union coal  companies” out of business.
Union members were involved with the tragedy at Upper Big Branch – but it was to help in rescue efforts. So while union members were volunteering to help and placing their own lives to assist in rescue efforts, Rush Limbaugh was erroneously blaming unions for the failures of the mine. Rush Limbaugh should be ashamed for spreading such lies- but then it is common place for him.
How tragic it is these 29 families now grieve in the name of corporate profits. As mentioned, Don Blankenship sits on the board of the National Chamber of Commerce – who is funding the campaign against the Employee Free Choice Act. This stalled legislation would allow card checks to give workers a say in union presentation. But, with patriots such as Blankenship fighting the measure on behalf of the National Chamber of Commerce, the bill currently is making no headway in getting passed.
Remember those families in West Virginia and the price they have paid. As the slogan for Worker’s Memorial Day states “pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.” While you are at it pray for the souls of Rush Limbaugh and Don Blankenship as well. Blankenship used his millions to pay for the allegiance of entertainers to help spread his message of lies. Maybe these celebrities will choose their causes more carefully in the future. |
