‘Something Needs to Be Done’: Massey Mine Survivor Testifies Before Congress

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/6231/upper_bi... /

Thursday July 15 2:40 pm

By Lindsay Beyerstein

On July 13, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing on proposed legislation to toughen mine safety. The major impetus for this legislation was the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) coal mine that killed 29 miners, the worst U.S. mining accident in the past 25 years.


Chairman and CEO of Massey Energy Company Don Blankenship (L) and International President of United Mine Workers of America Cecil Roberts testify during a hearing before a Senate subcommittee in May 2010. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)


The committee heard from many luminaries including two assistant secretaries of labor, the president of the United Mine Workers of America, the general counsel of the AFL-CIO, and a distinguished professor of mining engineering, as well as representatives from mining industry groups.

But the most compelling testimony came from a UBB coal miner who was underground on the day of the explosion. (VIDEO BELOW.) Stanley "Goose" Stewart has been mining coal for 34 years and working at the UBB mine, owned by Massey Energy Company, for the last 15 years. He explained to the committee how Massey's disregard for miner safety affected he and his co-workers every day.

"I'm here to speak for my 29 brothers who did not make it out," Stewart told the committee. "This tragedy never should have happened in America today."

"Something needs to be done to stop outlaw coal companies who blatantly disregard the laws," he continued. "Many things were wrong at Upper Big Branch, such as low air constantly."

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6VJLntN7ss&feature=play...

FULL story at link.

[Voice for Peace]

1. "all I ask is that you do the right thing."

k&r