12 Dead Miners
The miners hadn't been "allowed" to organize a union.
In the past two years, the mine was cited 273 times for safety violations, of which about a third were classified as "significant and substantial," according to documents compiled by the Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
Pray for the dead miners ... and for workers being "allowed" to organize for safe working conditions.
photography: REUTERS Haraz N. Ghanbari
posted by mireille at 8:49 AM
12 Comments:
This is just heartbreaking. Lovely tribute, M. I just hope the families of these miners aren't buried in red tape and paperwork as I fear they will be. Awful.
9:50 AM
So sad.
When will we learn?
9:54 AM
I didn't know that! Now I'm not just sad! I'm MAD!
10:04 AM
That was the most heart wrenching story to read about and worse to see the victims families.
11:57 AM
This was an absolute tragedy... I cannot even begin to fathom what the families ust have gone through after being first told the false news. They should use it as a grounds to sue... get some compensation... f em over for not letting them unionize... It won't bring back their families, no, but it will leave a hurtful dent for those responsible as money talks...
Tragic.
7:35 PM
Yes, I'll pray for them. I agree with actonbell -- it has to be one of the worst jobs there is.
8:03 PM
What a senseless waste. :-(
8:07 PM
re the republishing -- I'll be glad to. thanks for your interest. xoxo
9:07 PM
Thank you so much for not only acknowledging the tragedy, but also highlighting the issue of their inablilty to unionize. It amazes me, sometimes, the things that still go on in this country.
My heart goes out to the miners, as well as their families and friends.
9:22 PM
Oh hell!
Here's what I think about the miners not being "allowed" to unionize, and the NY transit workers not being "allowed" to strike:
Young Soldier: I don't know why I listen to you! Screw that captain!
Mother Courage: You listen because you know I'm right. Your rage has camlmed down already. It was a short one, and you'd need a long one.
Young Soldier: Are you trying to tell me I shouldn't ask for the money?
Mother Courage: Quite the opposite. I only say your rage won't last, and you'll get nowhere with it. If your rage were a long one, I'd say: Go ahead, slice him up. But what's the use - if you don't slice him up? What's the use if you stand there with your tail between your legs?
Older Soldier: You're quite right, he's crazy.
Young Soldier: All right, we'll see if I slice him up or not! (He draws his sword.) When he comes out, I slice him up.
Clerk: (looking out again): the captain will be right out. (A military order:) Be seated!
The Young Soldier sits.
Mother Courage: What did I tell you? Oh, they know us inside and out. "Be seated!" And we sit. I'm no better. Let me tell you of the great capitulation...
-Bertolt Brecht.
7:56 AM
Today's NPR reports on this were more horrifying news of the B administration (like B-movie)'s support of the mining companies. Worse than ever before. Before you just couldn't pierce the corporate veil. Now we have the guvment doing everything they can to aid the companies in flouting the regulations.
5:23 PM
I'm with TLP, I wasn't aware of that either, and it makes me not only sad but really angry too.
6:05 PM
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