Salazar was referring to the victory of the strikers in defeating a ban on their picket trailer that the company had instigated.

As they celebrated their victory, the Co-Op miners sent a message of congratulations to garment workers at Point Blank in Florida for their union victory (see article on Point Blank fight in this issue), and a thanks for their solidarity to the National Union of Miners in the UK.

On April 22, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Utah mailed a letter to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) that officially allows the Co-Op strikers to picket at the mine’s entrance with a picket shack, a toilet facility, strike signs, and a camper trailer. “A permit from BLM will not be necessary in this case since your proposed use of public lands falls under the definition of ‘casual use,’” says the letter from BLM’s field manager. “There is no time limit involved in casual use; however, we would appreciate being updated periodically on the progress of the strike situation.”

The letter was issued to the striking miners after they and several UMWA retirees met with the Utah Department of Transportation and the BLM April 13. Both state agencies had ordered the miners to remove everything from the picket site, claiming the picket trailer and shack obstructed the view of passing motorists and that any use of that land is only for purposes of maintenance and operations of state Route 31. But after many phone calls to the Department of Transportation from supporters of the strike, several articles in local newspapers highlighting the issues in the struggle, and the determination of the UMWA-organized workers and union retirees to refuse to accept the trailer ban, both agencies backed down. The strikers agreed as part of the final agreement to replace the bigger picket trailer for a smaller camper.

The 75 miners are on their seventh month on strike against CW Mining, also known as the Co-Op mine, seeking to obtain safer working conditions, respect and dignity on the job, and be represented by the UMWA.

On April 17 the miners drove a 1975 camper trailer to the picket site, to replace the bigger mobile home that they had used as shelter during the winter months. A resident of Price, Carbon County, sold it to the miners for half the price after a UMWA representative informed him it was for the strike.

The day after they set up this new trailer, the strikers held a BBQ celebration with supporters at the picket line. Despite some rain, several miners who have worked at Co-Op and others from the community came by to eat burgers, hot dogs, and roasted chicken. A striker’s wife baked a big Mexican cake, called tres leches, and with berries on top that read: “UMWA, GO!”

The following day about a dozen miners offloaded a truck full of food from the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City at their food storage in Huntington.

“We received 10 pallets of a lot of fresh food like vegetables and fruits, detergent, paper towels, cookies, refreshments, and a lot more,” said Gonzalo Salazar. “This was the second shipment from the food bank in the last two months.” Salazar said the food bank will continue making monthly donations as long as the strike lasts.

Between April 20 and April 23, miners said that the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) provided a four-day 32-hour mining course to the strikers in Spanish, free of charge. UMWA local representatives requested MSHA to provide these classes to assure proper training to those miners who had not had the necessary classes while working at the Co-Op mine. Because of this lack of proper training, MSHA is carrying out an investigation on charges of violations of Part 48 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act against the Co-Op owners, the Kingstons. Many miners report that they were never trained at Co-Op on basic safety conditions underground such as mine escape ways, emergency evacuations, roof and ground controls and ventilation plans, hazard recognition, and mine gases. Instead of the 32 hours of classroom instruction as required by federal law, the trainer at Co-Op only gave four to six hours of classes at his house and charged as much as $300 in cash only, according to the miners. In the state of Utah, new miner training costs $120.

While the strikers were in the MSHA-organized classes a couple of retired UMWA miners helped staff the picket line.

On April 19, the Co-Op strikers also faxed a letter to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) in Great Britain. The NUM has extended its solidarity with the strike through letters of support and financial donations. “It is only with the solidarity like yours that we have been able to maintain the strength to continue this battle for human dignity and justice,” reads the letter to the NUM. “We also understand you are holding celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the 1984-85 National Union of Mineworkers strike. Please let every NUM member know that we are with you during these events.”

In their letter, in English and Spanish, to the workers at Point Blank Body Armor they said, “We salute you! Your victory is an example for us. Our struggle, like yours, has been long. But like you, we are determined to go forward until we win a real union and be represented by the United Mine Workers of America.” Contribution to the striking miners can be sent to: UMWA District 22, 525 East 100 South, Price, Utah 84501. Checks should be earmarked “Co-Op Miners Fund.”
 
 
Related articles:
Florida garment workers at Point Blank win union recognition, first contract  
 
 
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