In Coal County, a Culture of Fear-Massey Intimidates Workers, Families Into Silence

[babylonsister]

In Coal County, a Culture of Fear
Massey Intimidates Workers, Families Into Silence
By Mike Lillis 4/22/10 7:00 AM

Coal miners sign

A sign outside a West Virginia vigil for coal miners who lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch explosion on April 5 (EPA/ZUMApress.com)


Charleston, W.Va. — Two weeks after the horrific explosion that killed 29 coal miners in Southern West Virginia, it’s business as usual for the owner of the project.

Massey Energy, the Virginia-based coal giant that runs the Upper Big Branch Mine, has denied time off for miners to attend their friends’ funerals; has rejected make-shift memorials outside the mine site; and, in at least one case, required a worker to go on-shift even though the fate of a relative — one of the victims of the April 5 disaster — remained unknown at the time, according to some family members and other sources familiar with those episodes. In short, the company might be taking heat for putting profits and efficiency above its workers, but it doesn’t appear to have changed its tune in the wake of the worst mining tragedy in 40 years.

“They told my husband, ‘You’ve got a job to do and you’re gonna do it,’” said the wife of one Massey miner, referring to the funerals he’s missed this month for friends who died in the blast. “What else are we gonna do?”

Such anecdotes aren’t easy to come by. Massey — the top coal producer in Appalachia — has built a reputation of intimidating its workers into a type of lock-step compliance that most often takes the form of silence, particularly when the subject revolves around safety in the company’s mines. The reason is clear: Massey is the economic engine in parts of West Virginia, and there’s a lingering fear among many workers that any grumbling could leave them unemployed. Some former employees said this week that the reluctance of Upper Big Branch miners to discuss the conditions inside those tunnels prior to the blast is no accident.

“I guarantee it: Massey’s already told these guys, ‘Hey, don’t say nothin’. You’re not talking to no reporters. You’re not saying nothin’ about our safety record — or you won’t have a job,’” said Chuck Nelson, a former Massey miner who’s since become an environmental activist with the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition. “That’s the way they operate.”

Jerry Massie, field representative for the United Mine Workers of America’s District 29 branch in Beckley, echoed that message this week, saying that Massey miners are well aware of the company’s response to recalcitrance: “Take your dinner pail and get out.”

That threat of job loss — be it spoken or simply understood — has created a culture of fear in some corners of Southern West Virginia, where coal is the only real industry, and Massey is king of the hill. Indeed, in certain areas there’s simply no queen.

more...

http://washingtonindependent.com/82941/in-coal-county-a-culture-of-fear

[liberal N proud]

1. Keep the people poor and they are dependent upon the company

Sounds so 19th - early 20th century with sweat shops.

Another example of a morally bankrupt nation where the rich are taking everything they can at the cost of anyone in their way.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

2. Whatever happened to the dignity of human life meaning something?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ above all else mentality and scum like Blankenship live like royalty.

Where can we find a planet size moral rudder before it's too late?

It seems as though people (and I use that term real loosely!) like Blankenship still live by some archaic Dickensian era code of ethics and nothing is being done to alleviate the problem.

Of course "W" should still share some of the blame for de-fanging MSHA as much as he could get away with.

[elehhhhna]

3. Exactly as mining was 100 years ago. A Republican victory.

[spinbaby]

4. I don't think the funeral bit is correct

I know a lot of people in the mining industry--including vendors who've visited that mine--and they say the funeral story is false. Massey is bending over backwards to be accomodating and is also throwing a lot of money at the victims' families.

That said, I perfectly well believe that they're threatening anyone who talks. The degree of power they have over their employees is almost unimaginable today and is the single best argument there is for union mines. The miners KNEW there was inadequate ventilation at the face, but without the power of a union, couldn't do anything about it. Massey had MSHA intimidated, too--not only did Massey contest every violation, if they didn't like an inspector, they'd have them replaced. Don't think it didn't happen.