"It's like we're living in a war zone"

Mine wars come in different forms. In the late 19th and early 20th century they were often shooting wars. But as Jeff Biggers in The Nation reports, coal operators are now waging an environmental war against West Virginians. Mountaintop removal mining is often the preferred method for coal operators because it's cheaper to perform than underground mining. That is until one calculates the health and environmental costs.

Mountaintop Removal Mining - Hardly a benign practice.

Biggers writes on a recent study by West Virginia University researcher Michael Hendryx: "'The coal industry generates a little more than $8 billion a year in economic benefits for the Appalachian region,' but the researchers also estimated the cost of premature mining-related deaths across the Appalachian coalfields at a yearly average of $42 billion.'"

The all too common corporate practice of privatizing profits while socializing cost is quite apparent here. Biggers also underscores the odious and cozy relationship between the coal industry and government officials. Even in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the harmful effects of this mountaintop removal, state and federal government officials have been slow to protect the public, and others, like West Virginia Democratic Representative Nick Rahall have worked aggressively to protect the coal operators' interests.

The Charleston Gazette's Ken Ward is also cited in Bigger's article and I encourage you follow his blog, Coal Tatoo for excellent reporting on this issue.

Finally, Jeff Biggers is the author of a new book, Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy of Coal in the Heartland, forthcoming from Nation Books and available for pre-order. I look forward to reviewing that book here soon.

Civic Unionism: An Interview with Rosemary Feurer

Northern Illinois Unversity Prof. Rosemary Feurer is a friend to this project and great labor historian and activist. Political Affairs Magazine recently published this interview with her.

In the interview, Rosemary discusses her latest book, Radical Unionism in the Midwest, 1900-1950. The publisher notes the book "examines the fierce battles between Midwestern electrical workers and bitterly anti-union electrical and metal industry companies during the 1930s and 40s. Organized as District 8 of the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE) and led by open Communist William Sentner, workers developed a style of unionism designed to confront corporate power and to be a force for social transformation in their community and nation."

Click on the book cover to order
the book from Powell's

In the interview Feurer describes a broader conception of union organizing known as "civic unionism...It is the idea that the union should reflect workers’ interests, their class interests, and that it should also integrate race and gender issues as an extension of those class interests."

She adds, "capital organizes at the local level, just as they do at the global level, that they need that spatial control. And they [the UE] came...to say that we workers need to control our turf, and that I think is representative of class consciousness and of the power relationships."

Campaign For Mother Jones and Eugene Debs Postage Stamps

The West Virginia Labor History Association board of directors has unanimously voted to support a nationwide campaign to petition the U.S Postal Service to create commemorative stamps in honor of two American labor leaders - Mother Jones and Eugene Debs. They are doing this in collaboration with Sanford Berman, a leading activist and librarian from Minnesota.

Rupert Garcia's 1989 silkscreen "Mother Jones"
would provide ideal artwork for an MJ postage stamp.

Mr. Berman, as a world-renowned expert on libraries and labor history, has been waiting decades for a commemorative stamp for Mother Jones and Eugene Debs. Many people believe that such stamps have already been issued. They have not.

The WVLHA and Mr. Berman are asking everyone to write the U.S. Postal Service to request stamps be printed in honor of Mother Jones and Eugene Debs.

Please join us in honoring American labor leaders by sending a letter or postcard.:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee:
Stamp Development;
U.S. Postal Service
1735 North Lynn St. Rm. 5013
Arlington, VA.22209-6432

You may obtain a copy of a pre-formatted letter by clicking here.

Mr. Berman is also requesting that if you do, send him a copy at -

Sanford Berman
4400 Morningside Road
Edina, MN 55416
952- 925-5738

For more information:

Steve Fesenmaier
West Virginia Labor History Association
907 Churchill Circle
Charleston, WV 25314
304-345-5850
mystery12@charter.net

Mapping The Mine War

Part of this documentary project is to the map locations of significant events of the Illinois mine war. Thus far I've included information on events in Springfield, the Midland Tract, and the famous Mulkeytown March. You'll find text, photos and even video linked to the various locations.

View Illinois Mine War in a larger map

More to come.

Mine War Site - Peabody No. 7

Former site of Peabody No. 7 mine in Kincaid, IL which was active from 1912 to 1952. Mass picketing occurred here during the mine war. In 1933, PMA Women's Auxilliary member, Emma Cumerlato was shot and killed a few dozen yards from here.

Emma Cumerlato

"Coal Country" Premieres in West Virginia

A new film entitled, COAL COUNTRY will premiere today at the Cultural Center of the Capitol Complex in Charleston West Virginia.

The film's web site describes the piece as "the dramatic struggle around the use of coal, which provides over half the electricity in America. In Appalachia, miners and residents are locked in conflict: is mining and processing coal essential to providing good jobs, or is it destroying the land, water and air? What does this mean for the rest of America and the world?"

Here's the trailer:

Although originally scheduled to premiere at the LaBelle Theater in South Charleston, the film had to find a new venue when the board of canceled the screening because of a “potential security concern". These concerns were spurred by the threats of the coal industry to have their followers out in force to picket the event. You can read more about this from Jeff Biggers at the Huffington Post.

You may also host a screening of the film in your community. Go to the COAL COUNTRY web site to learn how.

Mine War Site - Peabody Mine No. 8

Former site of Peabody Mine No. 8 in Tovey, IL which was active from 1914 to 1954.

Mass picketing occurred here during the mine war. The state militia intervened on behalf of the coal company and the United Mine Workers to break the picket line.