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Against Bosses and Sellout, Miners' Fight Growing

By VVAW

The miners are in the midst of the longest coal strike in union history. They're taking on not only the coal operators, police, the national guard and the threat of federal troops, but also their own union officials. Despite all the tactics designed to crush or subvert their actions, and despite the real hardships involved in striking for three months, the miners grow stronger and support for their fight is growing among workers and others around the country.

The media, serving the interests of the bosses, have helped unleash a propaganda barrage attacking the miners and attempting build popular support for any government or company actions which will stop their militant strike. We're told how the stubbornness, selfishness and greed of the miners is going to cause us all to freeze because they won't dig the coal. State governors have gone on TV to ask the miners' "patriotism." Not one of these commentators, not one of these politicians has said that the BCOA (the Bituminous Coal Operators Association) should give the miners what they need to achieve their goal of a decent life--always it's the miners who should capitulate.

Not one of these commentators or politicians has yet said anything about all of us freezing because the mine owners won't offer up a decent contract. Why don't they talk abut these sons of bitches who are living high off the profits they make from the miners who have to risk their lives, daily, in the mines?

Or take the media treatment of the contract offer agreed to by the United Mineworkers of America arbitration committee. Just based on TV and newspapers, people who have to believe that only fools would turn down such a lush contract. The facts are far different. The latest offer:

1. Takes away the right to strike. By allowing the company to fire "ringleaders, instigators, and pickets," the miners are being forced to depend on the grievance procedure for their very lives in unsafe mines. Without the right to walkout, miners will be forced to work for weeks and months waiting for action from the company.
2. Take away full medical insurance. Every visit to the hospital by a miner or member of his family would require the miner to put up the first $350 out of his pocket.
3. Does not equalize pensions. It continues to give miners who retired before 1974 a lousy $275 a month and did not improve the meager $350 per month that goes to miners who retired after 1974.

These are three of the four main demands the miners began the strike with--yet the media would have us believe that a pay raise was all that counted and the BCOA had already agreed to that demand.

In the face of all this, the miners haven't even flinched. UMWA President Arnold Miller's TV advertisements (paid for out of union funds from a union which has cut off the pensions to retired miners) are not only falling on deaf ears but are increasing the anger that many of the striking miners already feel toward their sellout top union leadership--in Illinois, 2000 miners marched demanding that Miller resign, and petitions demanding his resignation have been eagerly signed by miners across the country. Fights have broken out in union meetings between the union leaders who are supporting the contract and rank and file miners who believe that it stinks!

Over 160,000 miners are on strike. 1800 mines in 15 states are closed. In spite of statements about stockpiles, made at the beginning of the strike, the mammoth power companies are now playing a different tune and cutting back on power not only to schools and hospitals but even to industry. Layoffs have begun and will grow as the strike continues. So the attacks on the miners intensify.

In addition to the mine owners, the media barrage, and sellout union leadership (Miller already accepted one rotten contract, only to have it unanimously voted down by the arbitration committee), the miners face the threat of federal intervention (which may be happening by the time THE VETERAN is out). In several areas the National Guard has already been called in. In the face of all this, the miners have continued to wage fierce and militant struggle. Non-union mines have been closed, scabs have been turned away, and scab trains and trucks have been stopped. This fight has by no means been easy. Pensions for retired miners have been cut off. One retired miner was gunned down by company thugs while delivering sandwiches to strikers on the picket line. However, the miners not only are fighting back now but have a long history of struggle. During the last hundred years, there have been 10 major mine wars and thousands of wildcat strikes. In 1968 the mines were shut for tow months. Last year 85,000 miners went out on a wildcat strike because of cuts in medical benefits. And this year it is again toe to toe because the miners refuse to be crushed.

"We're going to stay out until hell freezes over if we have to, "is what one miner said, and that is the spirit of the miners. With petitions and demonstrations they are fighting Miller and the other hyenas in the national union leadership. With their refusal to work and with the risk of their lives they are fighting the coal bosses. Fighting to keep the things they have won in the past and for the things they need in the future, the miners are an example for workers and oppressed people everywhere.

VICTORY TO THE MINERS