Wednesday, August 15, 2007

This Date in Arkansas Labor History


On August 15, 1918, John Krallman, a Logan County coal miner and member of the United Mine Workers of America, was severely injured in a mine accident when the roof collapsed and fell on him. The owners and management of the Subiaco Coal Company denied all responsibility for his injuries, although the pit boss had refused Krallman's request for extra roof props and ordered him to shut up and get back to work.

Today, 134 miners are digging their way through the collapsed Crandall Canyon Mine at Huntington, Utah, still trying to rescue the six miners missing since the roof collapsed 10 days ago. Meanwhile, Robert E. Murray, the CEO of Murray Energy and co-owner of the Crandall Canyon mine continues to hold regular press conferences to protect the corporate image of the mine owners.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Government officials have indefinitely halted their attempts to dig to six miners trapped since August 6, after a cave-in Thursday night killed three rescuers and injured six others.

"Despite misleading and self-serving comments to the contrary ... these miners' lives were jeopardized because of the acts of men," United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts said Friday. He expressed doubts about whether Mine Safety and Health Administration and the mine's owners "fulfilled their responsibilities" to keep the miners and their rescuers safe.

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