Edwards Releases Plan to Improve Mine Safety

[Omaha Steve]

http://campaignsandelections.com/nh/releases/index.cfm?ID=3592

EDWARDS RELEASES PLAN TO PROTECT MINERS AND IMPROVE MINE SAFETY

Initiatives will prioritize miners’ safety above corporate interests by preventing accidents and strengthening enforcement

Chapel Hill, North Carolina – In advance of today’s Senate hearing on mine safety, Senator John Edwards released his plan to improve mine safety and protect American miners. Edwards also promised he would hire leaders at the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to transform the agency from apologist for mine owners to its intended role as aggressive protector of mine safety.

“Washington isn’t working for working Americans,” said Edwards. “Rather than take the strong actions needed to protect America's miners, it has relied on voluntary measures and inadequate half steps. And the agency charged with protecting them is staffed with industry lobbyists and insiders. When it comes to worker safety, we cannot compromise with the mine owners and Washington insiders who represent their interests.”

Mining is one of the most dangerous occupations in America. In the last 20 months, 64 coal miners and 46 metal non-metal miners have been killed on the job. Edwards believes we have to break the cycle of just reacting to disasters like the ones that occurred at the Sago, Darby, Aracoma and Huntington mines.

On Labor Day, the United Steelworkers (USW) and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) endorsed Senator John Edwards for president. Representing 1.2 million workers and retirees, the USW is the nation’s largest private sector industrial union. The UMWA represents 105,000 active and retired coal miners, municipal employees, health care workers and manufacturing workers in North America. Their membership includes more coal miners than any union in the world.

FULL story at link.

[saracat]

1. Apparently the only candidate who gives a damn.Edwards is always first on these issues. This is the

candidate for "change' who has real plans to make a difference.This is why he got their endorsement!

[waiting for hope]

2. Thanks for posting -

Edwards is sure to pick up more union endorsements - he gets it, and knows how the current system is screwing us all.

K&R!!