The Militant (logo)  
   Vol. 70/No. 24           July 3, 2006  
 
 
Utah miners, supporters celebrate
victory in settling lawsuit by bosses
(front page)
 
 
Militant photos by Tamar Rosenfeld
Left: UMWA Region 4 organizing director Bob Butero speaks at June 4 event at UMWA District 22 hall in Price, Utah. Right: UMWA retiree Bob Fivecoat and Annie Fivecoat (left) give former Co-Op miners Bill Estrada and Berthila León (right) press clippings and solidarity messages with union struggle. The Fivecoats helped organize fund-raising for miners’ fight to win UMWA representation. Translator Róger Calero is at center.

BY PAUL MAILHOT  
PRICE, Utah—“In September 2003 the workers at Co-Op stood up to the mine owners and opened a fight for dignity, better working conditions, and safety,” said Bill Estrada in welcoming some 100 people to a barbecue and program here June 4. Among those attending were former Co-Op miners, their families, and supporters. “Today we celebrate the defeat of the retaliatory lawsuit the company filed against our union struggle, and we celebrate what the fight at Co-Op means for the future. Our struggle was an example of what can be accomplished,” said Estrada, a former Co-Op miner and one of the leaders of the fight to win representation for the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) at the mine owned by C.W. Mining. “It strengthened the fight of immigrant workers today for legalization and the ongoing struggles by miners for safety on the job and unionization to enforce safer conditions.”

The meeting was held at the UMWA District 22 union hall. Mike Dalpiaz, UMWA international vice president for the region, welcomed the participants. A Mexican meal cooked by miners and their families was prepared to thank all those who backed the miners in their fight for a union. Rosita Salazar, the wife of one of the former Co-Op miners, baked an enormous tres leches cake for the event with “Thank you for your support” scrolled on top.

A display of 50 photos depicting highpoints of the struggle drew the interest of many. Miners who were directly involved in the Co-Op fight showed others the exhibit pointing to pictures that marked key moments of the organizing campaign.

Dalpiaz and Bob Butero, UMWA Region 4 director of organizing, described solidarity activities by many unions that helped sustain the struggle. “But the main people of this fight were the Co-Op miners themselves,” Butero said. “They are a brave group of people who deserve to be called true labor brothers and sisters.”

Butero said he had looked forward to swearing in the former Co-Op miners and welcoming them in a new UMWA local. But, he said, that victory was not won at this time. “That is going to have to be an ongoing and continuing battle.”

After Butero’s presentation, UMWA retiree Nick Degiulio, who was in the audience, asked for the floor. Up at the podium he spoke about the type of labor action that was common when the workers picketed the Co-Op mine for months. “Jack Smith, a member of our local, drove by the picket line one day,” Degiulio recounted. “He said, ‘We have to organize some solidarity for these miners,’ and that’s how the first truckload of food got delivered.” A good number in the crowd were retired miners who helped the union struggle. They described similar proud moments to reporters and others present.

Those speaking as part of the program included Alyson Kennedy, who was one of three women miners working at Co-Op when the struggle began (see article below); George Neckel, director of Utah Jobs with Justice; Trevyan McCoy, who represented International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 from San Francisco, along with fellow ILWU member Ed Thomas who led the crowd in singing a union song; Samuel Johnson, president of UMWA Local 1332 on the Navajo Nation; and Argiris Malapanis, editor of the Militant newspaper.

Johnson said the contract for his local at the McKinley mine near Window Rock, Arizona, expires in August. There has been little progress in negotiations with the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company, he said. “We’ve learned a lot from our solidarity efforts with the Co-Op miners,” added Johnson, pointing out that these lessons will be important for what he sees as their upcoming battle. Johnson invited participants to Local 1332’s annual picnic over the July 4 weekend in Window Rock, which he said is an important event to build solidarity with the Navajo miners.

Malapanis, who had recently returned from a reporting trip for the Militant to Harlan County, Kentucky, where five miners were recently killed (see front-page article), pointed to the interest among working people in Kentucky to learn about the Co-Op miners’ struggle in Utah and its accomplishments.

The celebration closed with former Co-Op miners Berthila Leon and Bill Estrada presenting photos of the miners’ march to the Co-Op mine in July 2004, after they had won reinstatement following their 10-month strike. The framed pictures were given to those who led solidarity efforts for the union-organizing campaign.

Reporters from the Salt Lake Tribune, Emery County Progress, Intermountain Catholic, and the Militant covered the event.

Trade unions and other supporters of the Co-Op fight sent solidarity messages that were read at the meeting. One was signed by Russell Mayn, secretary-treasurer of the Maritime Union of New Zealand Local 13.

“The Maritime Union of New Zealand sends a message of congratulations in defending free speech and the rights of workers to organise and fight for fair and decent working conditions,” it said. “Like your union we find ourselves continually under attack from employers exploiting workers and using anti-union tactics to increase company profits…. [E]njoy the 4th. ‘Touch One Touch All.’”
 
 
Related articles:
How Co-Op miners stood up, defeated bosses retaliatory suit  
 
 
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