The strikers are fighting for safer working conditions, respect and dignity on the job, and to be represented by the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).

Seventy-five people chanted and carried signs to expose the Kingston family for their abusive labor practices in the mine. A number of women’s rights supporters were part of the crowd. “The Kingstons exploit women and children in every possible way,” said Andrea Moore-Emmett, president of the Utah state organization of the National Organization for Women. “They break labor laws, they don’t pay their workers a decent wage. Some workers are paid in scrip. It is some of the worst exploitation in the U.S.”

There were representatives at the rally from the UMWA, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Employees, and Utah Jobs with Justice. The action was built through flyers and announcements on local radio station KRCL.

Many drivers passing the protest honked to show their support. Truck drivers were especially adamant, sounding their horns loud and long.

A brother and sister from a family that broke from the polygamous Kingston clan two years ago attended the picket to support the miners. They, their parents, and siblings had worked at the mine until their father was fired and they moved out. As they looked on, Daniel Kingston came out of A-1 Garbage Disposal to provocatively photograph protesters. This is a common attempt at intimidation employed by the Kingstons against strikers outside the coal mine.

Daniel Kingston has been convicted of child abuse for belt-whipping his daughter, Mary Ann Kingston, for fleeing a forced polygamous marriage to her uncle at age 16. “Her illegal 1997 marriage, in which she became the 15th wife to her then-33-year-old uncle, David Ortell Kingston, became known to police after her father, John Daniel Kingston, beat her unconscious for trying to leave the union the following year,” the Salt Lake Tribune reported last year.

At the May 1 rally, Co-Op strike leader Gonzalo Salazar thanked Salt Lake unionists and others for their solidarity and encouraged backers of the strike to help strengthen the picket line in front of the mine.

In Huntington, the union is encouraging strikers who have gotten jobs at other mines in the area to take stints on the picket line before or after work. Many coal mines in the area are hiring and a number of strikers have gotten jobs, reducing the number of strikers available for full-time picketing.

Retired UMWA miners have also responded to the union request. Two weeks ago the line was bolstered by retired UMWA members while 15 strikers attended mine safety classes. The union worked with the Mine Safety and Health Administration to hold the classes in Spanish. Miners need this certification to apply for work at other mines.

“I sincerely believe that if the Co-Op miners stay together they will win this battle,” said Bob Fivecoat, retired UMWA member from Local 9958, who worked at the nearby Sunnyside Mine for 25 years. “They will win this fight not just for themselves, but for the people that will come after them. When we went on strike we always did it for the miners that would be coming after us to work in the mine. If you stay together, you win together.”

Local 9958 members are retirees and theirs was the first mine workers unit in this area to come to the picket line to offer support. Since that time they have continued to join in strike solidarity activities.  
 
 
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