I realize that the majority of my recent diaries have been continuing coverage of the Massey mine disaster, and I feel it is important to inform the people about such an event and its aftermath. A small state like West Virginia doesn't get a lot of publicity, and events like this are sometimes allowed to die without proper justice being brought.
Massey Energy, the Virginia-based coal giant that runs the Upper Big Branch Mine, has denied time off for miners to attend their friends’ funerals; has rejected makeshift memorials outside the mine site; and, in at least one case, required a worker to go on shift even though the fate of a relative — one of the victims of the April 5 disaster — remained unknown at the time, according to some family members and other sources familiar with those episodes. In short, the company might be taking heat for putting profits and efficiency above its workers, but it doesn’t appear to have changed its tune in the wake of the worst mining tragedy in 40 years.
Source: Think Progress
It is appalling to me that something like this is allowed to happen without repercussions. That an employee isn't even allowed leave from work to visit a loved one's funeral who died in a terrible mining disaster. This is disgusting. My heart goes out to the miners who are forced to continue working under the iron fist and black soul of Blankenship.
So now, to cover up this catastrophe, Massey has hired a PR firm from Texas (Public Strategies). This firm has quite a load on their hands, especially given this new discovery from Think Progress
Public Strategies, an Austin, Texas-based firm owned by advertising giant WPP, has been brought in by the mining company’s board in recent days to advise it on how to respond to questions about the company’s governance and the board’s general oversight of the company, people familiar with the matter said. An explosion at the company’s Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia killed 29 miners earlier this month.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Miscellaneous Citing CourtesyWashington Independent
Also according to the WSJ, part of the firm has ties with the Bush White House, no doubt Blankenship is a fan. (also Clinton ties)
I have lost every bit of respect I've ever had for Massey and Blankenship (which albeit wasn't very much at all).
Of course, though, Blankenship denies putting money before safety in the aftermath of the mine disaster.
Blankenship:
Obviously, I don’t want to speculate, but either something went wrong from a natural/unnatural manner that was not foreseeable by us or human beings or somebody made a mistake or something. We don’t know.
It’s not due to us not being focused on safety, not having a strong safety culture, not putting safety first.
Some of the implications have been that we don’t focus on safety or we put dollars in front of safety and nothing could be further from the truth
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Both Quotes Taken from Coal Tattoo
The Massey Energy board has continually backed Blankenship since controversy has ensued in the post-disaster finger-pointing. I have a hard time believing that you "don't put dollars before safety" and yet had thousands of safety violations piled up (while only paying roughly 16% of them). I have yet to hear a convincing argument exonerating Blankenship. This is absolutely disgusting the way the miners have been treated since the tragedy, and Massey owes it to them to allow them to at least grieve. I could rattle of a series of vulgar words, but none would do justice.
This is truly, truly sad.