375:
strike over local issues. Miller argued that the only way to suppress wildcat strikes was to regulate the process and give local unions the right to strike. With the power that the ability to strike would give local unions, local mine operators would no longer create the conditions which led to strikes. But the owners rejected Miller's demand. They had seen how he was unable to bring wildcat strikers back to the bargaining table and they had little faith that his proposal would work. Instead, they demanded the right to fire wildcat strikers and fine any miner who refused to cross wildcat picket lines.
371:
case, this meant stripping local unions of the right to strike without the international union's approval. But wildcat strikes had become common in the coal industry. UMWA miners grew frustrated with the terms of national contracts and dispute resolution and grievances. Democratic reforms within the Mine
Workers and the 1974 contract had not released the pressure which caused wildcat strikes. Absent the right to strike, UMWA's democracy movement rejected labor peace and wildcat strikes had become even more common.
472:
negative; television stations ran images of miners burning the contract during meetings. To help sell the agreement, UMWA spent $ 40,000 on television and radio advertising. But UMWA members resented having their own union spend dues money on propaganda, and felt that the ad campaign showed that the contract was not worth ratifying. Miller's decision to use advertising to sell the contract backfired; the contract vote became as much a referendum on Miller's leadership as it was about the tentative agreement.
559:. On April 12, 1978, while still in the hospital, Miller suffered a mild heart attack. His health never recovered fully. His union political opponents had decided that his erratic behavior and poor physical condition justified putting him on involuntary leave when he suffered a third heart attack. Miller resigned on November 12, 1978. After a lengthy illness, Arnold Miller died on July 12, 1985, at a hospital in
987:
471:
A second tentative agreement was reached. UMWA's bargaining council approved the pact and sent it to the membership for ratification. The miners deeply resented losing their health care plan and having to pay premiums, and still demand the right to strike over local issues. Miner reaction was highly
501:
But a growing number of union members had backed off their earlier demand for the right to strike over local issues. Wildcat strikes reduced productivity, which in turn (under the contract) reduced employers' contributions to UMWA pension and health funds. The right to strike, they came to realize,
374:
Miller had been forced to accept the right to strike over local conditions in order to win re-election in June 1977. When national bargaining talks opened in the fall, Miller therefore insisted on changing the national collective bargaining agreement to give each UMWA affiliate the limited right to
554:
While ratification of the agreement was a victory for Miller, it also signaled the end of his effectiveness as leader of the United Mine
Workers of America. Political infighting, his autocratic behavior and the troubled 1978 contract negotiations finished him. On March 29, 1978, just ten days after
370:
The right of local unions to strike—not wages—was the primary issue in the negotiations. Low coal prices in the 1930s drove coal operators to cut wages. During the
Franklin Roosevelt administration, UMWA and other unions established industry-wide national collective bargaining agreements. In UMWA's
378:
UMWA's negotiating position was not an enviable one, however. Power utilities had built up a 120-day supply of coal, while iron and steel producers had a 75-day supply. Both were more than sufficient to weather a miners' strike. Additionally, the number of coal mines controlled by UMWA had fallen
566:
The 1978 contract is widely seen as a concessionary contract. Workers lost their cradle-to-grave health and pension benefits, were forced to pay for part of their health care for the first time in 30 years, and were forced to resume working under a productivity bonus system eliminated in 1946.
386:
Miller had also hurt himself. He had fired most of his supporters in the intervening three years, including press officer
Bernard Aronson, research director Thomas Bethell and most of the research department staff, leaving UMWA organizationally unable to handle the needs of the negotiations and
346:
Since the 1940s, the United Mine
Workers of America (UMWA) had negotiated a nationwide National Coal Wage Agreement with the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA), a group of large coal mine operators. The three-year agreements covered national bargaining issues such as wages, health and
464:
A tentative agreement was reached
February 6, 1978. The agreement imposed penalties for wildcat strikes and chronic absenteeism, turned the union's health and pension plans over to the employers, forced workers to pay part of their health insurance premiums, and instituted a bonus system for
391:
Company for negotiating advice and assistance at the bargaining table. This caused confusion among UMWA negotiators as to strategy, tactics and the content of proposals, and caused mixed signals to be sent by the bargaining committee, Miller and other UMWA officers. The lack of organizational
497:
On March 19, Carter asked the district court to make the injunction permanent. But noting that there seemed little national emergency, and observing that the Carter administration had made little effort to reopen the mines, the court declined to make the injunction permanent. The temporary
491:. An investigatory commission met on March 7, and held hearings at which both union and management witnesses testified. The commission's report was issued the following day, and a federal district court issued a temporary injunction ordering the miners back to work on March 9.
425:, who had thrown rocks and bottles at passing coal trucks. Four weeks into the strike, five union miners were indicted on federal charges for conspiracy in the dynamiting of a section of the Norfolk and Western Railway on which non-union coal was being carried. In
521:, where he was best known and where opposition had been strongest, speaking to members and making numerous television appearances. District presidents also went on radio and television, using free media to tout the benefits of the agreement.
420:
a state judge issued a 10-day restraining order against the union and 1,100 summonses issued after replacement miners complained of being harassed by picketers. On
December 13, state police in riot gear tear-gassed about 400 coal miners in
537:
Discipline (including loss of health and pension benefits) and/or discharge for any employee who participated in or caused a wildcat strike, but no punishment for honoring the picket line established by a wildcat
1033:
505:
Eventually, UMWA and mine negotiators settled on a compromise. They tentatively agreed on new, improved dispute resolution procedures which, they hoped, would lower the number of wildcat strikes.
502:
would only further harm their health and pension plans. Additionally, many miners began to realize that the strikes were hurting the union's organizing chances, especially in the West.
1018:
513:
Although Miller and his leadership worked hard to convince members that the contract was a good one, they avoided the errors of their previous effort. Country-western singer
1038:
343:. It began December 6, 1977, and ended on March 19, 1978. It is generally considered a successful union strike, although the contract was not beneficial to union members.
347:
pension benefits, workplace health and safety, and work rules. Local agreements, far more limited in scope, were negotiated by each individual local affiliate of UMWA.
191:
98:
524:
This time, the miners approved the tentative contract by vote of 57 percent to 43 percent. The strike ended on March 19, and the miners returned to work March 26.
1043:
197:
142:
1013:
1008:
311:
91:
266:
1028:
1023:
364:
293:
547:
Health care deductibles of $ 275 per family per year (less for retirees) and $ 50 per family per year form prescription drugs.
475:
During three days of voting from March 3 to March 5, the UMWA membership rejected the tentative contract by margin of 2 to 1.
340:
260:
250:
172:
84:
56:
125:
461:
agreed to let his state police officers to accompany federal marshals but refused to have them enforce federal labor law.
544:
Shuttering of the union's health and pension funds, to be replaced by health and pension plans offered by the employers.
413:
379:
from 67 percent to 50 percent since 1974, leaving more mines in operation to supply national needs during a strike. The
408:
As the bargaining talks continued in
December, sporadic violence broke out. A coal auger was blown up at a mine near
441:
declared a state of emergency on March 7 and ordered the state police to begin patrolling coal-producing areas. But
560:
541:
Guaranteed payment of health and retirement benefits, even if the union's health and pension funds were depleted.
422:
244:
238:
992:
270:
230:
217:
567:
Meanwhile, the union's primary goal—winning the right to strike over local issues—was never accomplished.
409:
211:
203:
550:
Union payments to the existing union health fund to compensate for revenues lost due to wildcat strikes.
517:
was hired to sing and narrate several soft-sell one-minute radio spots. Miller traveled heavily through
388:
360:
166:
556:
494:
The striking miners ignored the injunction. The federal government did little to enforce the order.
305:
178:
154:
458:
276:
234:
148:
131:
383:
which had powered the 1974 round of bargaining no longer existed, and coal demand was lower.
488:
280:
158:
514:
450:
380:
254:
207:
498:
injunction lapsed, and no further action was taken by the administration or the courts.
438:
137:
1002:
944:
555:
the coal mining contract was ratified, Miller suffered a stroke while on vacation in
356:
336:
332:
484:
446:
442:
531:
A 37 percent wage hike, albeit with loss of the cost-of-living clause won in 1974.
923:
Franklin, Ben A. "Arnold Miller is Dead at 62; Former Mine
Workers' President."
468:
The union's bargaining council rejected the tentative agreement on
February 12.
329:
433:
called out the National Guard on February 14 to protect coal truck convoys. In
982:
518:
430:
821:
This was the first time miners had to pay a premium or deductible since 1946.
830:
For terms of the pact, see Dewar, "Unit Recesses Without Vote on UMW Pact,"
162:
108:
909:
Dewar, Helen. "Coal Industry's Bullish Talk of Last Spring Didn't Last."
454:
434:
986:
392:
competence and flow of mixed messages helped prolong the labor dispute.
426:
930:
Krohe Jr., James. "The UMW Battlefield Moves Beyond the Coal Field."
860:"Carter Invokes Taft-Hartley Act to Force Reopening of Coal Mines."
707:"Carter Invokes Taft-Hartley Act to Force Reopening of Coal Mines,"
400:
UMWA struck when the national contract expired on December 6, 1977.
643:
Navarro, "Union Bargaining Power in the Coal Industry, 1945-1981,"
739:
Dewar, "Coal Industry's Bullish Talk of Last Spring Didn't Last,"
888:"Coal Strike Ends on 110th Day after Miners Approve Agreement,"
812:
The surrealism of that statement was not lost on the membership.
777:"Coal Strike Ends on 110th Day after Miners Approve Agreement,"
417:
686:, December 9, 1977; "Mine Strike Erupts Into Violence in Ky.,"
80:
660:, June 27, 1977. He was ostensibly fired for insubordination.
947:. "Union Bargaining Power in the Coal Industry, 1945-1981."
453:
refused to call out the National Guard in their states, and
76:
586:
Krohe, "The UMW Battlefield Moves Beyond the Coal Field,"
1034:
Labor disputes led by the United Mine Workers of America
954:"Negotiators in Coal Strike Sidestep a Sticking Point,"
916:
Dewar, Helen. "Unit Recesses Without Vote on UMW Pact."
790:"Negotiators in Coal Strike Sidestep a Sticking Point,"
534:
Institution of a productivity incentive bonus plan.
44:
34:
26:
21:
694:, December 17, 1977; "Coal Strike in 11th Day,"
487:invoked the national emergency provision of the
690:, December 14, 1977; "Coal Strike Explosions,"
92:
8:
1019:Miners' labor disputes in the United States
937:"Mine Strike Erupts Into Violence in Ky."
843:Franklin, "Arnold Miller is Dead at 62,"
803:These bonuses had been eliminated in 1945.
735:
733:
590:, April 1980; "Striking out of Weakness?"
412:, a coal train was stopped and delayed in
99:
85:
77:
18:
1039:December 1977 events in the United States
753:
751:
749:
639:
637:
635:
633:
631:
629:
719:
717:
874:"Coal Miners Strike as Pact Expires."
773:
771:
769:
767:
682:"Coal Miners Strike as Pact Expires,"
582:
580:
576:
949:Industrial and Labor Relations Review.
602:
600:
645:Industrial and Labor Relations Review
7:
22:1977–1978 UMW Bituminous coal strike
479:Taft-Hartley and changing attitudes
326:Bituminous coal strike of 1977–1978
1044:1970s strikes in the United States
14:
404:Rejection of tentative agreements
30:December 6, 1977 - March 19, 1978
985:
1014:1978 labor disputes and strikes
1009:1977 labor disputes and strikes
365:1974 UMW Bituminous coal strike
341:United Mine Workers of America
1:
387:strike. Miller turned to the
902:"Coal Strike in 11th Day."
881:"The Coal Miners Walk Out."
606:"The Coal Miners Walk Out,"
414:Cambria County, Pennsylvania
359:had negotiated the previous
1060:
895:"Coal Strike Explosions."
867:"The Coal Miners Decide,"
757:"The Coal Miners Decide,"
1029:1978 in the United States
1024:1977 in the United States
561:Charleston, West Virginia
300:US Bituminous coal strike
294:US Bituminous coal strike
261:Indiana bituminous strike
116:
49:
16:United States coal strike
961:"No Peace in the Pits."
656:"No Peace in the Pits,"
619:"No Peace in the Pits,"
465:productivity increases.
423:Daviess County, Kentucky
239:Battle of Blair Mountain
993:Organized labour portal
449:and West Virginia Gov.
328:was a 110-day national
312:Warrior Met Coal strike
271:Columbine Mine massacre
251:UMW General Coal Strike
231:West Virginia coal wars
218:Hartford coal mine riot
975:"Turmoil in the UMW."
669:"Turmoil in the UMW,"
483:On March 6, President
410:Saint Charles, Georgia
245:Alabama miners' strike
204:Colorado Coalfield War
173:Anthracite coal strike
143:Bituminous coal strike
126:Mahoning Valley strike
527:The pact called for:
389:Stanley H. Ruttenberg
363:agreement during the
361:collective bargaining
167:Carterville Mine Riot
958:, December 20, 1977.
951:36:2 (January 1983).
794:, December 20, 1977.
698:, December 16, 1977.
610:, December 12, 1977.
557:Miami Beach, Florida
351:Causes of the strike
306:Pittston Coal strike
267:Colorado Coal Strike
198:Paint Creek mine war
179:Carbon county strike
834:, February 8, 1978.
673:, January 31, 1977.
594:, October 24, 1977.
509:Contract settlement
192:Westmoreland strike
941:December 14, 1977.
906:December 16, 1977.
899:December 17, 1977.
885:December 12, 1977.
155:Illinois coal wars
979:January 31, 1977.
920:February 8, 1978.
892:, March 31, 1978.
878:December 9, 1977.
876:Associated Press.
871:, March 13, 1978.
781:, March 31, 1978.
761:, March 13, 1978.
743:, March 21, 1978.
727:, March 20, 1978.
711:, March 10, 1978.
459:James R. Thompson
321:
320:
277:Harlan County War
235:Battle of Matewan
149:Lattimer massacre
132:Morewood massacre
75:
74:
71:
70:
1051:
995:
990:
989:
939:Washington Post.
932:Illinois Issues.
918:Washington Post.
911:Washington Post.
904:Washington Post.
897:Washington Post.
848:
847:, July 12, 1985.
841:
835:
828:
822:
819:
813:
810:
804:
801:
795:
788:
782:
775:
762:
755:
744:
737:
728:
721:
712:
705:
699:
684:Associated Press
680:
674:
667:
661:
654:
648:
641:
624:
623:, June 27, 1977.
617:
611:
604:
595:
584:
489:Taft-Hartley Act
281:Battle of Evarts
159:Battle of Virden
111:
101:
94:
87:
78:
65:Mining Companies
51:
50:
19:
1059:
1058:
1054:
1053:
1052:
1050:
1049:
1048:
999:
998:
991:
984:
972:March 20, 1978.
956:Washington Post
925:New York Times.
913:March 21, 1978.
864:March 10, 1978.
857:
852:
851:
842:
838:
832:Washington Post
829:
825:
820:
816:
811:
807:
802:
798:
792:Washington Post
789:
785:
776:
765:
756:
747:
741:Washington Post
738:
731:
722:
715:
706:
702:
696:Washington Post
692:Washington Post
688:Washington Post
681:
677:
668:
664:
655:
651:
647:, January 1983.
642:
627:
618:
614:
605:
598:
588:Illinois Issues
585:
578:
573:
515:Johnny Paycheck
511:
481:
451:Jay Rockefeller
406:
398:
355:UMWA president
353:
322:
317:
255:Herrin massacre
208:Ludlow Massacre
112:
107:
105:
67:
66:
60:
59:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1057:
1055:
1047:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1001:
1000:
997:
996:
981:
980:
977:Business Week.
973:
966:
965:June 27, 1977.
959:
952:
945:Navarro, Peter
942:
935:
928:
927:July 12, 1985.
921:
914:
907:
900:
893:
886:
879:
872:
865:
862:Facts on File.
856:
853:
850:
849:
845:New York Times
836:
823:
814:
805:
796:
783:
763:
745:
729:
713:
700:
675:
662:
649:
625:
612:
596:
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572:
569:
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551:
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510:
507:
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477:
405:
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319:
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297:
290:
289:
285:
284:
274:
264:
258:
248:
242:
227:
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222:
221:
215:
212:The 10-Day War
201:
195:
188:
187:
183:
182:
176:
170:
152:
146:
140:
138:Coal Creek War
135:
129:
122:
121:
117:
114:
113:
106:
104:
103:
96:
89:
81:
73:
72:
69:
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55:
54:
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38:
36:
32:
31:
28:
24:
23:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1056:
1045:
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1017:
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946:
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936:
933:
929:
926:
922:
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915:
912:
908:
905:
901:
898:
894:
891:
890:Facts on File
887:
884:
880:
877:
873:
870:
866:
863:
859:
858:
854:
846:
840:
837:
833:
827:
824:
818:
815:
809:
806:
800:
797:
793:
787:
784:
780:
779:Facts on File
774:
772:
770:
768:
764:
760:
754:
752:
750:
746:
742:
736:
734:
730:
726:
720:
718:
714:
710:
709:Facts on File
704:
701:
697:
693:
689:
685:
679:
676:
672:
671:Business Week
666:
663:
659:
653:
650:
646:
640:
638:
636:
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616:
613:
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583:
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558:
549:
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516:
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486:
478:
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469:
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448:
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436:
432:
428:
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419:
415:
411:
403:
401:
395:
393:
390:
384:
382:
376:
372:
368:
366:
362:
358:
357:Arnold Miller
350:
348:
344:
342:
338:
337:United States
334:
331:
327:
313:
310:
307:
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
291:
288:1940s – 2020s
287:
286:
282:
278:
275:
272:
268:
265:
262:
259:
256:
252:
249:
246:
243:
240:
236:
232:
229:
228:
225:1920s – 1930s
224:
223:
219:
216:
213:
209:
205:
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199:
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185:
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150:
147:
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141:
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133:
130:
127:
124:
123:
120:1870s – 1900s
119:
118:
115:
110:
102:
97:
95:
90:
88:
83:
82:
79:
62:
58:
53:
52:
48:
43:
39:United States
37:
33:
29:
25:
20:
976:
969:
962:
955:
948:
938:
931:
924:
917:
910:
903:
896:
889:
882:
875:
868:
861:
844:
839:
831:
826:
817:
808:
799:
791:
786:
778:
758:
740:
724:
708:
703:
695:
691:
687:
683:
678:
670:
665:
657:
652:
644:
620:
615:
607:
591:
587:
565:
553:
526:
523:
512:
504:
500:
496:
493:
485:Jimmy Carter
482:
474:
470:
467:
463:
447:Milton Shapp
443:Pennsylvania
407:
399:
385:
377:
373:
369:
354:
345:
325:
323:
299:
968:"To Work."
934:April 1980.
855:Works cited
723:"To Work,"
439:John Dalton
339:led by the
279:1931–1939 (
157:1898–1900 (
1003:Categories
571:References
519:Appalachia
431:Otis Bowen
381:oil crisis
416:, and in
269:1927–28 (
233:1912–21 (
206:1913–14 (
163:Pana riot
109:Coal Wars
455:Illinois
435:Virginia
35:Location
538:strike.
437:, Gov.
429:, Gov.
427:Indiana
335:in the
314:2021–23
308:1989–90
302:1977–78
194:1910–11
181:1903–04
45:Parties
396:Strike
333:strike
253:1922 (
970:Time.
963:Time.
883:Time.
457:Gov.
445:Gov.
186:1910s
869:Time
759:Time
725:Time
658:Time
621:Time
608:Time
592:Time
418:Utah
330:coal
324:The
296:1974
263:1927
247:1920
220:1914
200:1912
175:1902
151:1897
145:1894
134:1891
128:1873
27:Date
57:UMW
1005::
766:^
748:^
732:^
716:^
628:^
599:^
579:^
563:.
367:.
237:,
210:,
165:,
161:,
283:)
273:)
257:)
241:)
214:)
169:)
100:e
93:t
86:v
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