Boss caused strike violence

However, the last paragraph of the article that says "several miners described the strike as a militant, sometimes violent struggle" is misleading. Defending the union became a central issue of the strike. They learned through struggle why it's important for the unions to maintain a defensive position, while at the same time refuse to stand down from the fight. This is what made it possible for them to win broad support, and defeat the combined attempts by the company, cops, and media to discredit their fight.

The strike was marked by violent attacks on the strike and provocations by the company and the local, state, and federal police agencies. On October 9, some 150 pickets held a "stand-in" to block trucks from entering and leaving. In no time, the Highway Patrol was there roughing up strikers, including a woman who had just had bypass surgery and a striker who had lost one of his legs in a mining accident. They arrested a 62-year old, wrestling him to the ground and proudly displayed his concealed weapon, a pocket knife.

The company called in FBI agents, who cruised back and forth across the picket line. One striker was arrested by the local cops for "stalking" and released only after he could prove that he had "legitimate" business on U.S. Route 80.

The Salt Lake City TV stations and the local paper, the Rocket Miner joined in the campaign to discredit the strike. In response, strikers came to Salt Lake City to tell the truth about their fight and win support from the labor movement.

Thirty-four strikers were fired by the company for "misconduct" during the strike. The USWA members decided they would stay on strike until all the union members were reinstated. Frequent mass rallies helped maintain high morale. They were attended by members of the USWA from the nearby FMC mine, as well as the United Mine Workers of America in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Not one miner crossed the picket lines. They won their demand.

No doubt miners remember the battles that took place during the four-month strike of 1993. What's equally important to remember is that the company was responsible for the violence.  
 
Ilona Gersh 
New York, New York 
 
Editors' note: 
We agree with Gersh. It was wrong to refer to 'strike violence' without explaining the real story, as she does here.

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Marian, North Carolina  
 
 
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