About 30 members of the United Mine Workers Union of America from the Deer Creek coal mine located near Huntington, Utah gathered outside of the Gallivan center Friday to tell people they’re concerned about their safety. Right now they are in the middle of contract negotiations with their employer, Energy West Mining, who they say is planning to cut safety provisions. The proposal includes eliminating 11 of the unions 14 safety representatives. Union spokesman Brad Timothy says that won’t keep them safe.
“It’s something we can’t give away," he says. "I look back at what my dad’s done for me in the mine, my grandfather, and all these others. There’s been ones that have died for us for what we’ve got. Can I let it go? I can’t let it go.”
A spokesperson for Energy West Mining says that safety is their number one priority. They also say that the bargaining process is still in the very early stages and that the only way a new contract will get done is meeting together at the bargaining table.
