Ozgur and other members of the Students Labor Action Project on that campus have been distributing fact sheets on the Co-op miners’ fight at their school. Support for the coal miners locked out since September 22 has been spreading in the coalfield communities around Price and Huntington, Utah, where the Co-op mine is located, and in the rest of the state.

The miners were involved in a union organizing drive before the lockout. They had been talking to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) about the need to get a union organized to help fight the abusive working conditions and low wages. On September 22, the Co-op miners walked off their jobs, protesting the suspension of a worker and unsafe job conditions. The company, C.W. Mining, fired all the workers. The miners set up picket lines in front of Co-op October 3.

This mine is owned by the Kingston family, a religious clan of the Latter-Day Church of Christ. The clan is reported to have some 1,000 members and a $150-million business empire in six western states. The Kingstons, who are known to practice polygamy, have made as much $1 million a month from this mine.

Charles Reynolds, the personnel manager of C.W. Mining Company, charged in a letter to the editor published in the Sun Advocate, the twice-weekly paper published in Price, Utah, that “the employees were asked to return to work or go home. They were not fired.” He also stated, “The company has incentive pay in addition to actual base pay. The combined pay ranges from $5.50 to $20 per hour.”

On October 21, a letter signed by 13 locked-out miners answered these charges and explained what their fight is about. In response to the company’s suspension with intent to discharge one of the miners, the letter says, “Workers got together and went to management to resolve the problem like they had done the week before but the company called the sheriff and told workers to leave the property. The company claims workers were not fired, but people could not return to the mine. The next day workers were stopped at the gate, with the police present again, and were told that only 10 people who were on a list would be allowed to work and the rest were fired.”

The miners’ letter continues, “For the company to try to justify paying any miner $5.50 an hour only sheds light on their arrogant belief that they have the right to exploit human beings. Base pay for all miners at Co-Op should be enough for us to provide for our families on any given day. Supplementary pay and bonuses that are tied to production and attendance are only another tool in the company’s hand. If a worker refuses to carry out an unsafe work practice they are likely to lose their bonuses and supplementary pay.”

In interviews on the picket line, the locked-out miners reported that they recently formed four committees to better organize their struggle. The Food Committee will work on ways to get food donated for those picketing and the families of the miners.

The Immediate Necessity committee will work on responding to emergencies such as medical care, utility cutoffs, and eviction notices. In the third week of October, four miners had to be taken to the medical clinic in East Carbon for medical care.

The Picket Line Maintenance committee is working on upgrading the picket lines and making sure that all shifts are staffed. This week a mobile home was donated to the miners and brought down to the picket line. A propane tank is being hooked up to provide heat and a gas generator will provide lighting. This will allow for shelter from very cold mountain wind and air.

Another committee is working on fund-raising, outreach, and communications. Spouses of miners are making donation boxes that will be placed in stores in the surrounding towns. Funds are needed to provide food and other necessities for the miners and their families. Donations can be sent to UMWA, 525 East, 100 South, Price, Utah 84501. Checks should be made out to “Co-op Miners.”  
 
 
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