Peabody Coal Miners Locked in Struggle for Justice

by James Parks, Nov 30, 2006

Names like Zeigler, Ill., Sturgis, Ky., and Dugger, Ind., evoke the image of close-knit small-town America where everybody knows everybody else and neighbors leave their doors unlocked. But these towns and dozens more—all in coal mining country—are locked in the biggest battle to bring justice to coal miners since the days of the Mine Worker’s (UMWA’s) legendary leader John L. Lewis.

In mining towns throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia, thousands of nonunion miners at Peabody Energy facilities are fighting to exercise their freedom to form a union. Responding to their calls, the UMWA union, which Lewis led from 1920–1960, and workers at 19 Peabody mines launched the Justice at Peabody campaign in December 2005.

Peabody, the world’s largest private coal company, employs some 8,300 miners at 33 mines in nine states. The company provides 10 percent of the nation’s electricity and 3 percent of the world’s power. Peabody systematically closed its union mines and replaced them with nonunion mines over the past 15 years, according to the UMWA. Currently, only 30 percent of Peabody’s U.S. mines are union. Their union contracts expire Dec. 31.

Union organizers, meeting Dec. 8–9 in Washington, D.C., at the AFL-CIO Organizing Summit, will examine the Peabody campaign and develop strategies to help more workers join unions. Summit participants will focus on successful grassroots organizing techniques and innovative campaign strategies that have enabled workers to join unions despite the anti-union decisions of the Republican-dominated National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Just this past summer, AFL-CIO national unions finalized plans to put at least an additional $150 million a year into staffing, research and support for workers’ efforts to join unions.

Summit participants also will rally on Capitol Hill and discuss plans for building on the astounding political shift after the Nov. 7 election and winning passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. The act would allow employees to freely choose whether to form unions by signing cards authorizing representation. To register for the summit or for more information, call Tiffany Heath at 202-637-6247.

The summit will demonstrate the close link between politics and organizing. The link between politics and organizing becomes clear in the Peabody campaign. City and county councils in more than 15 coal mining towns in states where Peabody mines are located have passed resolutions supporting the workers’ right to form a union and backing passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Donna Green, who works at a nonunion Peabody mine near Evansville, Ind., knows the value of the Employee Free Choice Act to the miners. Here’s what she told a rally in Evansville during the recent political campaign:

Even though it’s not as visible as it once was, the anti-union attitude at Peabody Mines hasn’t changed. It seems like safety is an issue only when it doesn’t interfere with production. We want the same benefits as the workers in Peabody’s union mines. We do the same work, but work longer hours for less pay and no benefits.

We have to support candidates for Congress who will get this bill passed.

Green says most of the miners who have not signed union cards at the Black Beauty mine, where she works, are afraid:

They say the company could shut down the mine or Peabody can’t afford to have a union. They’re intimidated by the company.

I tell them that if we elect the right people and get this bill through, they won’t have to go through that long [National Labor Relations Board] vote. Signing this card will be their vote.

Says AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff:

This campaign is one of the most important in the union movement. Peabody is by far the dominant company in the industry. We all know we have to win it. We are going to engage the company at every level. Wherever an office of Peabody shows up to speak, we’re going to be there to demand neutrality and card-check.

The struggle to gain a voice for the miners has taken on even greater importance this year because a union contract goes a long way toward improving safety conditions. 

The danger of underground coal mines recently has been underscored by the deaths of 45 miners since January, including five in Harlan County, Ky., and 12 in the Sago Mine explosion in West Virginia. This has been the deadliest year for miners on the job since 1995. 

Peabody miners also have strong support from the global community and religious leaders. Australian coal miners who work for Peabody are actively supporting their U.S. brothers and sisters, urging the company to let them have the freedom to form a union. Peabody mines in Australia are all unionized. Peabody operates mines in the United States, Australia and China.

Members of the Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice (RLCJ) met in late April with senior Peabody officials and presented a petition signed by 700 clergy members from across the country asking the company to remain neutral in workers’ efforts to form a union.

Print This Article | E-Mail This Article |Comments (1)