UMWA Journal blasts Massey’s Blankenship
The latest issue of the United Mine Workers Journal takes on one of the union’s longtime opponents, Massey Energy Don Blankenship, with a lengthy article called, “Don’s World: Massey Energy’s CEO defines a rogue coal company.”
Of course, the UMWA’s beef with Blankenship goes back to the mid-1980s strike. But the story focuses on more recent events, including the Harman Mining case, Blankenship’s involvement in West Virginia politics more generally, and recent workplace safety and environmental problems at Massey operations.
It quotes UMWA President Cecil Roberts:
Coal can be mined in an environmentally responsible way. But in many respects, Massey has chosen not to do it that way, and the result has been to give the coal industry a black eye. As public scrutiny gets raised about coal and coal mining, Massey gives those who oppose coal something to point to as they bad-mouth our entire industry.
The article continues:
In Don Blankenship’s world, the coal industry should hunker down behind the Appalachian mountains and do nothing but call names and make enemies. He somehow appears to think that if he can ignore the issues surrounding coal and the future of coal, or if he says enough bad things about the politicians in Washington, then they will go away and leave the coal industry alone.
Roberts says:
“That is a recipe for failure … Don’s solution is to make the politicians do their worst and then try to gain some political advantage from it. That won’t lead to a single additional ounce of coal being mined, or a single coal job being saved.”
16 comments
Keep driving that wedge Ken and maybe someday it will happen.
Ken is driving no wedge.
He is walking a tightrope.
So is Roberts.
Just my opinion.
“Of course, the UMWA’s beef with Blankenship goes back to the mid-1980s strike.â€
At that’s about when Cecil Roberts lost all of his credibility in the coal industry.
Roberts says:
“That is a recipe for failure … Don’s solution is to make the politicians do their worst and then try to gain some political advantage from it. That won’t lead to a single additional ounce of coal being mined, or a single coal job being saved.â€
Seems to be working so far. Massey is sure creating more jobs and making more money than the UMWA in this state.
We have let everything that our fathers before us fought to gain.They lost many lives on Blair Mountain to get us a union and we have let them die in vein.Lord, help us when judgement day comes. A lot will get a big surprise.God doesn’t forget who you are!!!!!
This article reminds me what is so wrong about the U.S. today. People like Don Blankenship and Ken Ward. People who see things out of one set of glasses and do their best to offend other people. Personally, I’m a coal guy who believes coal is good for our state. Ward, to me, is worse than Blankenship and always does his best to upset people like me …to the point where I look closely to see his real agenda. The real reason behind his anti-coal rants is that he wants attention and maybe, just maybe win that next pulitzer prize for journalism. But that is not what Ken will tell you. He’ll tell you he’s doing the hard work, swimming upstream, saving our children’s lives, blah, blah, blah. I would give this man some respect if he would take a balanced approach, complimenting the people of coal for what they do well and their contributions to our state. And, for those issues that need improved (i.e. water quality, reclamation standards, etc.), he should be an advocate to reform mining law to improve compliance and reduce environmental damage. But, Ken’s no better than Don Blankenship for that matter. They both have their small groups of followers, but are really just self serving loud mouths. I, for one, and proud of the improvements that the coal industry has made over the years. Our streams are much, much cleaner, our air is better and our reclamation is much improved. So good job Ken, and thanks for another terribly biased and devisive article. I’ll see if we can drum up an immitation Pulitzer for you.
Mountaineer:
Ken doesn’t need me to defend him, and he knows I don’t always agree with everything he writes — but I would point out that he didn’t write this article, the UMW Journal did. He was just reporting –without comment — what we wrote.
Mountaineer, you are mistaken in your take about Mr Ward. Lord knows that we have had our disagreements about some of my posts in the past and he has even removed some of them because I was too rough on MTR people. He even left one of them up as an example of what not to post. If he had an agenda as you are insinuating he would have left all of them up and not sent me email warnings about being too hard on you guys.
I hope that Mr. Ward continues to report news that we would otherwise not hear. No other source reports news happenings concerning coal that Mr Ward does.
Phil:
I probably don’t disagree with you Phil, and I know that the UMWA has always stood up for coal, but my rant was only a piece of what I really wanted to say about Ken Ward. I’m so sick and tired of his presenting only the negatives about coal and coal companies to further his attack on the coal people of this state. He is nothing more than a far left activist that constantly works his butt off to make us look bad. The vast majority of people who live in “energy rich” states in Central Appalachia disagrees with most of his opinions and the opinions of the other far left activists like our extremely knowledgeable Hollywood crowd. But worst of all, as I (and many generations of my family before me) toil underground to supply energy to this country, idiots like Ward are out there trying to grab the spotlight and see their picture or name on the front page of the newspaper. They fight this “worthy cause” from their extreme position and shove it in my face. I’m just tired of him constantly trying to make my industry look bad. And I’ve seen enough of his BS reporting to know that it is far less about his idealogy and far more about his personal glorification. All at the expense of our jobs.
As far as the UWMA, you guys better get more involved and more vocal. Instead of worrying about guys like Don Blankenship right now, you ought to be more visible in minimizing the impact of cap and trade on our industry. You know how bad this is going to hurt coal. I’m not saying that you’re not (effectively) working behind the scenes to impact key voters, but I am saying that your approach is way too low key. Your organization has always been good at getting people’s attention. You ought to be out there organizing protests against this crippling legislation and getting our rich tradition of coal mining back on the front page. You used to be so good at it.
Mountaineer,
We generally don’t allow name-calling on Coal Tattoo, and we try to have a respectful discussion … but if what you need to do to feel like you’ve got your say is call me an idiot, then have at it.
But any further name-calling will result in you being banned from the comments section.
I’ll let your post speak for itself, except to point out that you don’t point to one single specific thing that I’ve ever written that was inaccurate or unfair.
And I can’t help put point out that you cite no data to support your conclusion that most people in coal states agree with you. While all of the public opinion polls that have been made public on the issue show that most West Virginians and most Americans oppose mountaintop removal.
See stories on those polls:
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/MiningtheMountains/200810230324
http://www.wvgazette.com/News/MiningtheMountains/200407140003
Now, please try just a little bit harder to keep it civil, OK.
Ken.
West Virginia should be one of the riches States. With so much
coal mined all these years. Where is it at? Every since I could remember a lot of people have been unemployed.My Dad mined
coal for 50 cents a buggy. He was born in 1914. Prices has went up since then also.West Virginia has nice people.We deserve better for our children and grand children. Not just gettin by.
Some feast some are in famine.Now that’s just my opinion.
I just read a MACED report in the Lexington Herald Leader this morning that says coal costs KY $115 million per year more than it takes in - and that costs only include damage to roads ($239 million annually) and streams, tax breaks, subsidies and education materials for school children.
These MACED figures do not include the public health care costs for injured miners or from the burning of the coal: Indiana University School of Medicine determined that the costs of mercury contamination, asthma, heart disease and lung cancer from burning coal were approximately $5 billion per year for Hoosiers. $5 billion.
So tell us again Mountaineer how good coal is for us?
Ken what about a poll on who agrees with or opposes deep mining, as Mr Coopers post seems to suggest they are against all forms of mining coal. MTR is just their trojan horse.
watcher,
I am not aware of a poll that asked the public’s views on deep mining.
And I’m not sure that Dave Cooper speaks for anyone except Dave Cooper.
Please try not to assume that one person speaks for everyone else.
Ken.
Ken ,am I mistaken and this is not the Dave Cooper with The Dave Cooper Mountain Top Removal Road Show that travels to schools all over the country?
watcher,
I believe it is — he’s brave enough to put his name to his comments …
But I still don’t think that means he speaks for anyone but himself. He certainly didn’t indicate that he was speaking for someone other than himself.
Ken.
Thanks Ken I thought so , Dave Cooper OVECs organizer extraodinaire.
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