San Diego, CA
In the first two months of this year, the disasters at the Sago mine and other mines claimed the lives of 21 coal miners. These tragedies focused the nation’s attention on the dangers faced by workers and the weakness in job safety protections. But the Sago disaster was not an isolated event, nor were the conditions that caused or contributed to these deaths unforeseen. For years, the United Mine Workers has pointed out the need for stronger action to prevent explosions, fires and roof falls, and improvements in mine rescue measures to give miners the best chance possible to survive a catastrophe.
But rather than working to protect the safety and health of miners and other workers, the Bush Administration has focused its energies on making the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration more employer-friendly. At the urging of corporate interests, the Bush Administration withdrew dozens of important safety rules, while implementing industry favored changes. Since 2001, the MSHA coal enforcement staff has been cut by 190 positions and the budget by 10%. At the same time, voluntary efforts have been emphasized over enforcement, with penalties for even the most serious violations a little more than a slap on the wrist. And virtually all the top level positions at MSHA have been filled with officials from the mining industry, with yet another coal industry official now nominated to head MSHA for President Bush’s second term.
Protecting the lives and health of this nation’s coal miners should be a priority for the nation. More than 50% of the country’s electric power comes from coal. And in the face of high oil prices and with a focus on energy independence, coal production and the number of coal miners is increasing. This increase in production should not have to come at the costs of miners’ lives.
The AFL-CIO calls upon the Congress to enact and President Bush to sign legislation to require the immediate adoption of measures to improve communications, oxygen availability and mine rescue teams, to prohibit the dangerous practice of using conveyor belts to supply fresh air to the mine face, and to put some teeth into MSHA enforcement by establishing mandatory minimum penalties for serious and repeated violations. We also call for the Congress to restore funding for coal enforcement to at least to the 2001 levels, so there can be proper regular oversight of the nation’s mines.
But these measures can only be effective if MSHA returns to core mission – to protect the safety and health of miners – and once again becomes an advocate on behalf of miners. The AFL-CIO opposes the nomination of another coal industry official – Richard Stickler – to head MSHA. We call upon President Bush to withdraw his nomination and appoint a recognized leader in mine safety who will be a strong advocate for this nation’s miners to head MSHA at this critical time.