They also discussed the need to involve their spouses in this fight to get the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) organized at the mine.

Three coal miners who are women volunteered to contact the wives and organized a meeting that same night.

“At one of the meetings, a miner raised the idea that the women get together to involve the families in support of the fight. Eighteen women attended the first meeting. At the second meeting there were even more new faces,” said Ana María Sánchez, 24.

At the first meeting Sánchez and Berthila León, both of whom work at the mine, reported why the miners were out of work and why they were fighting for a union. The miners’ wives knew their husbands were out of work, but only three knew what any of the issues were. They decided to organize a yard sale in nearby Huntington to raise funds for the fight.

León, who helped organize the yard sale, said $250 was raised from the two-day sale. The wife of one of the miners volunteered her house for the sale. A big sign saying “Yard sale—Help the unemployed miners at Co-Op” was put in the yard. The miners also went door-to-door in Huntington handing out fact sheets on the fight and telling people about the yard sale.

A retired miner came by and said he knew workers from the nearby Deer Creek mine who wanted to help. The women told him how to contact the Co-Op miners, and that day he took Lou Shelley, president of UMWA Local 1769 at the Deer Creek mine, and other local members to meet the miners. One of the Deer Creek miners contributed $50 to the yard sale.

Many other people came over and expressed support for the miners’ fight against Co-Op. Another $50 contribution was made by a member of the local Catholic church that many of the miners attend.

Another yard sale was held in Price the next weekend. Rosa Salazar, who helped organize it, said “We are not just standing by with our arms crossed. They see that we are with them.”

Zamaria Salazar, also a member of the women’s auxiliary, said, “It’s important to be together with our husbands in support of this fight. There have been so many injustices—mistreatment, low wages.”

Wives and other family members are invited to attend many of the miners’ meetings where the fight against Co-Op is discussed. At these meetings, reports from the women’s auxiliary are given. Five wives of miners attended the September 18 Immigrant Rights Freedom Ride rally in Salt Lake City, Utah. One miner said, “My wife attended the Salt Lake City rally and now she is into this.”

The women’s auxiliary also sent a representative to be part of the miners’ delegation that participated in the recent UMWA convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

On September 28 members of the auxiliary cooked a barbeque for the miners and their families. A Mexican-born coal miner from Colorado donated two goats that were barbequed and used to make a stew. Rice, beans, and homemade tortillas were also served. Several Mexican miners who work at other mines in the area attended to lend their support to the fight.
 
 
Related articles:
Utah coal miners set up pickets in fight for union
Locked-out workers win solidarity from fellow unionists  
 
 
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