Protections for miners (write to Congress) bills sittling in Congress

[rodeodance]

Original Message --------
Subject: No More Sagos
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:35:58 +0000 (GMT)
From: Working Families e-Activist Network <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
To:


Dear xxxxx,

Every year on April 28, Workers Memorial Day, we honor fellow workers who have been hurt or killed on the job and renew our struggle for safe workplaces. This year began with a terrible workplace tragedy, the explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia that claimed the lives of 12 miners. A total of 24 coal miners have died in workplace accidents already in 2006, making it crystal clear that we need strong protection for our miners.

As oil prices soar, pressure is on to produce more coal. As the coal mines kick into high gear, we have to protect the workers who are working for us. Let’s make sure there are no more Sagos. Contact your U.S. senators and representative today and ask them to support real reform to our mine safety laws.

Click Here to Take Action

It’s no coincidence that we’ve seen a rash of mining fatalities this year. The Bush administration has put our nation’s coal miners in danger by killing 17 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) safety rules, including measures on mine rescue teams and emergency oxygen. These very rules might have helped the miners at Sago. The administration also weakened mine ventilation standards and allowed coal conveyer belt shafts to be used as a source of air, a dangerous practice prohibited by the Mine Act.

What’s more, President George W. Bush has consistently put mine bosses and industry executives in charge of MSHA. His administration has failed to punish mining companies for safety violations, levying insignificant fines when companies put their workers in danger.

Our coal miners are dying at an alarming rate, and it has got to stop. Take action today and tell your senators and representative to pass protections for miners.

Click Here to Take Action

Two bills proposed in Congress (H.R. 4695/S. 2231 and S. 2308) would take immediate steps to protect the nation’s coal miners, including:

* Requiring immediate notification of accidents and rapid emergency response.
* Requiring new, stronger standards on mine rescue teams, communications, tracking devices and oxygen availability for mine emergencies.
* Setting mandatory minimum penalties for egregious and repeated violations.
* Prohibiting the use of conveyor belts to ventilate work areas.

This Workers Memorial Day, let’s make a difference for workers who face unsafe conditions every single day. Help pass these important reforms and help save miners’ lives.

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/minesafety

In solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

Here’s how miners who escaped the Sago disaster described the explosion:

“There was no warning, no nothing. I mean, more wind and dust than you could even think about.”
—Owen Jones

“I didn’t hear anything but a little bump, like a thump. And all this stuff started blowing down on us—coal dust, soot, ash, mud. It was just like volcano stuff, you know. It was just like being in a volcano.”
—Ronald Grall

Read more at
AFL-CIO Now.