On this day in labor history, the year was 1969.
That was the day President Richard Nixon signed the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act into law.
At least three key events served as the impetus for the legislation.
Beginning in the mid 60s, miners began staging numerous health and safety walkouts across the Appalachian coalfields.
Their working conditions were despicable.
Then, in November 1968, 78 miners were killed in a methane and coal dust explosion at Consol Mine no. 9 in Farmington, West Virginia.
Miners were outraged when UMW leader Tony Boyle provided cover for the company’s murderous negligence.
Then, in January, thousands of miners rallied in West Virginia’s state capitol, along with the Black Lung Association and the Disabled Miners and Widows.
They demanded legislation controlling coal dust and compensating black lung victims.
When the hearings dragged on, 30,000 miners walked out in a wildcat the next month, in what is referred to as the 1969 Black Lung Strike.
By March, the number would increase to 40,000.
The state law passed March 12. Fears of a nationwide health and safety wildcat strike prompted Congress to craft and pass the federal Act.
According to historian Paul Nyden, “the West Virginia Black Lung strike was the longest political strike in modern U.S. labor history.”
The Act created the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
It mandated annual inspections and increased federal powers of enforcement.
The Coal Act also required monetary penalties for all violations, and established criminal penalties for knowing and willful violations.
The Act developed improved mandatory health and safety standards and provided compensation for miners disabled by Black Lung disease. Miners continue to fight for better conditions, enforcement and compensation today.
November 10 - Suicide or Murder?
November 9 - Remembering Philip Murray
November 8 - Dorothy Day is Born
November 7 - Eisenhower Wields Taft-Hartley
November 6 - The Fight for Equality
November 5 - The Everett Massacre
November 4 - Will Rogers is Born
November 3 - The Greensboro Massacre
November 2 - Sixteen Tons
November 1 - The Deadly Consequences of Scabbing
October 31 - Happy Union Made Halloween
October 30 - Wall St. Lays an Egg
October 29 - Alice Doesn’t Day
October 28 - The Pony Express
October 27 - The 1948 Donora Smog
October 26 - America’s Florence Nightingale
October 25 - NY Daily News On Strike!
October 24 - Eight Hours for Work, Eight Hours for Rest, Eight Hours for What We Will!
October 23 - John Sweeney is Elected
October 22 - Pretty Boy Floyd Is Gunned Down
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