Coal mines want to hire non english speaking workers...

[Ayla]

SIDNEY, Ky. - The president of Sidney Coal Co., a subsidiary of Massey Energy, has asked the Kentucky mining board to make it possible to hire non-English speaking coal miners.

In an official document presented by Charlie Bearse, who heads up the Pike County coal company, he asked for a change in the current law.
Currently Kentucky requirements are that all miners be fluent in English for safety reasons.

Safety concerns, especially because of possible communication problems, are another factor that raises eyebrows among many in the industry.

Bearse cited a declining work ethic and drug problems among the current work force in the document.

The document was distributed at a December board meeting by Bearse.

The situation has apparently concerned some in the mining industry.

“It's common knowledge that the work ethic of the Eastern Kentucky worker has declined from where it once was,” the document stated.

Statistics from the Labor Department show 3,500 new miners are needed in the Bluegrass State, the document says.

“Compounding the worker shortage (problem) is that attitudes have changed among the existing work force, which affects attendance, drug use and, ultimately, productivity,” the document said.

On the other side, Phil Smith, a spokesman from the United Mine Workers of America Communications Department said,

“It says a lot about what Massey thinks of the people there. We don't share that opinion concerning the work ethic or sobriety of the workers in eastern Kentucky or southern West Virginia.”

“This is the first step to paying lower wages and reducing benefits,” Smith said.

“This is reminiscent of the late 1800's and early 1900's when the coal companies brought in immigrants from Europe.

“Everybody knows how bad those days were,” Smith added.

“People just need to be compensated fairly and treated well by their employers,” the UMWA spokesman said.

To many, the request comes at an interesting time. Coal prices are at record highs and companies across the region are running advertisements for skilled miners.

At the same time, state Office of Mine Safety and Licensing records show the agency has issued 12,545 temporary mining cards in the last two years.

The current law trumps any regulatory change by the mining board, said Kentucky Coal Association President Bill Caylor.

“But it really is just a matter of time,” Caylor told a Lexington newspaper. “I think this is just the first shot in trying to adopt this.”

In other parts of the country, Americans have been accustomed to watching the Hispanic population grow and work in construction jobs.

Sidney Coal has “identified Hispanic workers who want to come to the area and train to become miners,” the document states.

“The company's objective is to attract workers to the area who ‘have the necessary work ethic,' and therefore, needs the ability to hire and train non-English-speaking coal miners.”

“We are appealing for the ability to obtain miners' certificates for non-English-speaking workers in a controlled environment,” the document further stated.

The three labor representatives and the chairman of the seven-member mining board voted at the Dec. 22 meeting to table the proposal until later.

The Kentucky Mining Board met again in Frankfort, but Sidney Coal's proposal was not on the agenda. Another meeting is scheduled for Feb. 23.

Hispanic mining applicants would most likely need proper paperwork showing that they are legally in the United States.

One source said that if a company has the need, they can apply and receive permission to employ undocumented workers.

It was not clear whether Massey Energy also wants to hire Mexican workers at its other mining operations. A phone call to Massey's corporate office in Richmond, Va. referred the Williamson Daily News to Jeff Gillenwater in the Charleston, W.Va. office.

Gillenwater contacted Bearse to respond to the story.

Yeah...this makes a lot of sense...with all the recent mining deaths in that area....lets hire people who don't speak English so that it's even more unsafe.... Massey Coal is already a bad company to work for... it's nice to know some things don't change!

[Merika]

I don't think someone should be turned down for a job because they don't speak good or a lot of English....but to plan on hiring then BECAUSE OF...seems kind of ridiculous.

[Ayla]

Originally Posted by Merika

I don't think someone should be turned down for a job because they don't speak good or a lot of English....but to plan on hiring then BECAUSE OF...seems kind of ridiculous.

I think in a situation where thier lack of understanding (spoken or written) English can cause an accident that can cause the deaths of others then they should be turned down for a job. If they want to work there...then they should learn fluent English.

[Just__A__Thought]

Well, I'm fluent in sign language and most of it is universal - its only the spelling that is slightly different.

Doh!

I heard someone say it was a subtle way to try and kill of hispanics. Oh the theories that abound!

[Paul]

wow, 6 of the same posts... that has to be some kind of record.

[sweetbilly]

It's kind of funny you should post this, as i know a little bit about it, the main reason they are trying to hire non-english speaking workers now is that the mines can't compete in the global markets anymore becuse countries like China and Russia are using slave prison labor to mine coal, gold etc... and flooding the markets ...driving the price way down. So American Co's have to pay minimal wages to compete and make a buck and no one wants to do the job when they can't even feed their families. Who wants to do a dangerous job and possibly die in a coal mine for 10 bucks an hour? But i definatly don't think they should make a dangerous job more dangerous by allowing non-english speaking people to work along side english speaking people, that could be really dangerous and really stupid. If my frined or a family member died cause you hired someone who couldn't speak english, i'd own your company a month later!!!

[Merika]

Originally Posted by Paul

wow, 6 of the same posts... that has to be some kind of record.

Why didn't you delete the duplicates? :?

:wink: j/k

[Merika]

Originally Posted by sweetbilly

It's kind of funny you should post this, as i know a little bit about it, the main reason they are trying to hire non-english speaking workers now is that the mines can't compete in the global markets anymore becuse countries like China and Russia are using slave prison labor to mine coal, gold etc... and flooding the markets ...driving the price way down. So American Co's have to pay minimal wages to compete and make a buck and no one wants to do the job when they can't even feed their families. Who wants to do a dangerous job and possibly die in a coal mine for 10 bucks an hour? But i definatly don't think they should make a dangerous job more dangerous by allowing non-english speaking people to work along side english speaking people, that could be really dangerous and really stupid. If my frined or a family member died cause you hired someone who couldn't speak english, i'd own your company a month later!!!

If the whole crew speaks the same language....it'll work out. I've posted this on here before but we used to have a Bosnain crew out on the shipyards and only one guys spoke English. They kicked a$$. I've never seen a harder working group of men with NO WHINING! If I owned a business....I'd hire them before most of the other men I've worked around.

[sweetbilly]

Oh i'm not saying they can't work, alot of em work harder than Americans do.... i'm just saying if i'm working in a coal mine and a rock the size of New York is about to fall on my head, (which has been known to happen in coal mines) i want the guy yelling "GET THE HECK OUT OF THE WAY" to say it in english, i don't want to have to break out my Bosnian/English translation book.

[Vautrin]

Originally Posted by sweetbilly

i don't want to have to break out my Bosnian/English translation book.

Depending on where you put it, that would have saved your life perhaps.

"Gee, that guy is screaming something unintelligble to me. Let me go to the top to get my translation book."