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The battle for unionization in the 1930s was an attempt to improve working conditions and a revolt against the arbitrary economic, political, and social power of the operators. The local mine owners increased their influence over the lives of workers by virtually owning every sheriff, politician, and judge in Harlan County. Every law enforcement agent would then fight against any attempt at unionizing. Sheriff John Henry Blair reported that during the strikes of 1931—1932, "I did all in my power to aid the coal operators." The operators felt that they acted as benevolent patriarchs caring for the workers. As long as miners adhered to the company's moral code that prohibited prostitution, theft, drunkenness, and unionism, they provided a reasonable amount of social security. Unionism gave miners their only chance to fight the authoritarian control of the operators. Two-thirds of the county's labor force mined...
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This section contains 199 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) |
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