{West Virginia}...The United Mine Workers of America says a notice Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources posted at the Upper Big Branch mine, where 29 men died in an explosion last year, is a standard industry tactic aimed at discouraging attempts to unionize. A memo Alpha posted discouraging unionization on the day it bought Massey Energy says, "Signing a Union Authorization Card is like signing a blank check. You will not know what it is going to cost you or your family in the future. Unions are a business. They need monthly dues and assessments from employees to survive. We believe you need to keep all of your take home pay and not share it with any union." Alpha spokesman Ted Pile says, "It's not uncommon for the mine management to post these policies so as to inform people of the rights they're entitled to under labor laws."Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Alpha Defends Notice At UBB Mine
{West Virginia}...The United Mine Workers of America says a notice Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources posted at the Upper Big Branch mine, where 29 men died in an explosion last year, is a standard industry tactic aimed at discouraging attempts to unionize. A memo Alpha posted discouraging unionization on the day it bought Massey Energy says, "Signing a Union Authorization Card is like signing a blank check. You will not know what it is going to cost you or your family in the future. Unions are a business. They need monthly dues and assessments from employees to survive. We believe you need to keep all of your take home pay and not share it with any union." Alpha spokesman Ted Pile says, "It's not uncommon for the mine management to post these policies so as to inform people of the rights they're entitled to under labor laws."