United Mine Workers of America District 22 received a “notice of violation,” dated March 30, from the Utah Department of Transportation revoking the permit for the strikers’ picket trailer. It says, “Vehicles and signs are being placed within 30 ft. of edge of pavement in violation of Special Limitations…. Permit is hereby revoked.” Strikers say this is a serious move aimed at their right to effectively picket.

The transportation authorities gave strikers a 10-day notice to remove the trailer. If not, the state agency said, it would levy a fine of $10 per day after receipt of notice, and “with the assistance of the Attorney General’s Office, to pursue all available legal remedies, to include agency action or judicial relief.”

The miners, on strike since September against CW Mining, known as Co-Op, are demanding the company recognize the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). They are fighting for better safety conditions, wage improvements, health and retirement benefits, and the reinstatement of all 74 miners who were fired after they protested the arbitrary suspension of a co-worker.

Miners report that during the six months they have been on strike they have observed all the rules and regulations and have not had problems with the local police regarding the trailer.

“The Kingstons are the ones violating the law,” said striker Gonzalo Salazar, referring to the mine owners. “They come out with camcorders and park their trucks in the middle of the road. We see them speed and not stop at the stop sign. We have proof on video.”

The strikers received their first permit for the trailer on October 29 of last year; it was later extended to May 1. The UDOT notice did not order a halt to picketing, but it would be a symbolic victory for the company to get rid of the trailer, said Salazar. “We get visitors and reporters who come here and we tell them to park away from the state highway,” he said.

Other miners say this is a serious attack instigated by the Co-Op bosses on their right to be at the mine’s entrance. They say some of the strikebreakers had spread rumors from the company that it was going to tow away the trailer before the strikers knew about it.

Supporters of the strikers in Salt Lake City and in Emery and Carbon counties have called the local UDOT office in Price to support the miners. A solidarity committee for the miners set up by Utah Jobs with Justice has mobilized to spread the word in Salt Lake.

The strikers have also contacted active and retired UMWA miners, church members, and other workers in the area to protest the revocation. UMWA lawyers have also contacted the UDOT permits officer, Dale Stapley, who signed the “notice of violation.” He issued a temporary extension of the permit until May 14 but no final decision has yet been made. The attorney general has also been contacted by the supporters of the strikers to intervene in their favor.  
 
Students bring solidarity
As part of the growing solidarity that the striking miners here have been receiving, a group of students at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City visited the picket line at the Co-Op mine April 7.

Aanika Smith, a student enrolled in a class on social work that has taken on solidarity with the Co-Op miners as its focus, described how she and her classmates became active in supporting this labor struggle. “Ours is a practice class for community and social work. When we heard about the strike at Co-Op, everyone was excited about getting involved,” she said.

The class of 25 set up committees to help mobilize support and disseminate facts about the strike. Smith said the students have a media group, a food and clothing committee, a letter-writing committee, and an executive summary group. They have conducted food drives, worked with local radio station KRCL to publicize the fight, and participated in a meeting with the state attorney general to air protests over the company’s abusive treatment of workers at the mine.

Jack Fleming, a student who attends weekly meetings in Salt Lake City with other activists and strikers, explained that they changed the original syllabus after the class began, and now focus entirely on solidarity work with the miners.

For two weeks the students placed boxes around campus soliciting food and clothing donations. In addition to collecting clothing and canned goods, they raised $200 to buy fresh chicken and necessities such as diapers and toilet paper, which they delivered to the picket line April 7.

For many of the students, this was the first time they had visited the picket line and met striking miners.

As trucks rolled down the state road transporting coal from nearby mines, drivers honked or waved. Striker Juan Salazar explained that this is common among most passersby, whether in trucks or cars. “Very few people go by and don’t show support in some way,” he said.

Salazar pointed to a truck full of scab coal exiting the Co-Op mine—it barely slowed down to make the turn onto the main highway. “You see how dangerously they drive. The trucks leave here very fast with no regard for safety,” he said. “They don’t want to see or hear us out here.”

One of the students photographed the coal trucks leaving with coal to document the tarps loosely draped over the top. “This is illegal,” she said. It can cause problems for motorists whose cars are hit by chunks of coal falling from the trucks, or kicked up later on the road.

When the students visited the picket line they learned of UDOT’s intention to revoke the trailer permit. On the spot, they began planning an emergency campaign to call and write to the attorney general and UDOT to demand the permit be reinstated.

Smith said she is constantly looking for avenues to broaden support for the miners. “I’m writing to Oprah Winfrey to see if she will cover the story of the Co-Op miners,” she said, referring to the television talk show host.

Students were among those at a March 26 picket at the East Side Market in Salt Lake City, owned by the Kingston family. The students will also join a May 1 picket line outside A-1 Garbage Disposal, another Kingston business in Salt Lake City.

The Kingston family owns businesses worth $150 million in Utah and surrounding states. The Co-Op mine had been among the most profitable leading up to the walkout and strike that began in September.
 
 
Related articles:
14 U.S. miners killed on job this year  
 
 
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