Tough Mine, Workplace Safety Bill Advances

http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/07/22/tough-mine-workplace-safety-bill-advances/

by Mike Hall, Jul 22, 2010

Tough new mine safety and workplace safety rules cleared a big hurdle yesterday when the House Education and Labor Committee approved legislation that includes stronger enforcement tools, tougher penalties and broader workers’ rights.

The bill—now named The Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act (H.R. 5663) in honor of the late West Virginia senator who was a champion of mine safety—focuses on mine safety, but also includes provisions to strengthen safety protections in all workplaces. Says committee chairman George Miller (D-Calif.):

Too many families have suffered a tragic loss because of callous mine operators, ineffective protections and outdated laws. It is time to provide effective protections so that every worker can return home safely at the end of their shift.

At last week’s hearing on the bill, Stanley “Goose” Stewart, who was able to escape the April explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch (W.Va.) mine that killed 29 other coal miners, told the committee:

Something needs to be done to stop outlaw coal companies who blatantly disregard the laws….This bill must pass to keep coal companies honest or make them pay the price for their unscrupulous behavior.

(Today Massey CEO Donald Blankenship is speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and workers will demonstrate outside, highlighting Massey’s long record of coal mine safety violations. We will bring you a report later today.)

FULL story at link.