Mine 'Safety' Agency Bars Union from Utah Investigation

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration has refused a request from the families and fellow miners devastated by the loss of six men in Utah this month to have the Mine Workers' union represent them during the investigation. 

"This means that there will be no independent voice at the table in MSHA's investigation, questioning the actions of both the company and the federal government in this disaster," Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts said. "These families should have the right to be full participants in this investigation, and they should be able to designate whoever they want to be their representatives."

The so-called mine "safety and health" agency is run by a former mining executive whose track record at his worksites was dismal – twice the national average for rate of injuries. Even with Republicans in charge last year, President Bush couldn't get them to approve Richard Stickler's nomination. So as Bush has done with other "unpopular" appointments, he took advantage of a loophole in the law and gave Stickler the job while Congress was in recess.

The Utah mine, owned by Murray Energy, is nonunion, but federal rules are supposed to allow the Mine Workers to represent workers at any mine, union or not, at the workers' request.