31 May 2012
On March 27, 2012, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, Joe Main, spoke before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding the results of MSHA’s accident investigation into the April 5, 2010, explosion at the Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine in West Virginia. In his statement, Main said:
To reflect our commitment to worker voice, we are using all our available tools to protect miners from discrimination when they make complaints about dangerous conditions, or exercise other rights provided to them under the Mine Act. The fear of losing a job—even temporarily until a discrimination claim can be litigated— makes a huge impact on a breadwinner for a working family, and can force a miner to choose the care of his or her family over other safety concerns.
To read the full article, click below.
Reprinted with permission from Coal Age Magazine.