Robert Murray, owner of the Crandall Canyon mine, announced yesterday that he would lay off nearly 300 workers at another Utah mine "until (he) can make it safe."
Finally! Mr. Murray has seen the light! This tragic circumstance has convinced him that the safety of the workers who make him his millions is actually important! Eh, not so much. Amazingly, he blamed Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. for the lay-off. Oh, and just to make sure he covered all the bases, he also blames a newspaper and Senator Ted Kennedy!
In the meeting to announce the layoffs, Simms said, Murray lambasted Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. for the criticism he has lobbed at Murray and his mining operation. He also criticized The Salt Lake Tribune for its coverage. Murray also railed against Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, who has asked for federal documents related to the Crandall Canyon mine.
more after the jump...
As the president of a 700+ member local union, I was literally slack-jaw shocked the day that the Crandall Canyon mine collapsed and I watched mine owner and wingnut Robert Murray spend the first ten minutes of his live press conference railing against the United States Congress, global warming advocates and the United Mine Workers. Here he has six workers literally buried under a mountain and he's on some wild-eyed idealogical rant? Of course, as we learned more about Mr. Murray's political craziness, it became... ummm... not so shocking at all.
Of course, he must feel bad about the workers who he's laying off, right? He understands how traumatic it is to be suddenly told to clear out your locker and go find another job, right? As a man who supposedly lied about his age at 16 to go to work in the mines and support his family he surely understands the importance of having the support of one's family when one loses his job so abruptly, right? Wrong.
Miners say Murray met with about 50 people during the afternoon shift at the West Ridge mine, apologizing for the disaster at Crandall Canyon mine. But he also said it has become impossible for him to do business in Utah.
.....
Murray also asked miners not to tell their wives or families about the layoffs until he told the other miners.
After Murray's statement, Simms said, West Ridge employees went outside and awaited word from mine general manager Darrell Leonard, who told them individually which ones were fired and which ones weren't.
"I walked in and he said 'you're laid off,' " Simms said. "I walked downstairs, handed my rescuer's [breathing apparatus] to the bosses downstairs, grabbed all my stuff and was told not to tell anybody about this meeting until 9 a.m. [today], including my wife," Simms said.
"How can I come home early with all my work stuff and not tell my wife?" he wondered. "How am I supposed to tell my kids I don't have a job now. How am I supposed to do all this, keep my mouth shut for 16 hours. That's what he wanted me to do. I'm not very happy about it."
I'm sorry, I simply have nothing to add to this.
UPDATE: Kossack strobusguy asks: Is there some way that we who support unions and mine safety and effective federal oversight can respond to this complete jerk? Is there a union-sponsored fund, or some other mechanism, that we can contribute to provide some assistance to the families who have (presumably) lost their loved ones, and to those who (apparently) are about to lose their jobs? I'd kick in a contribution.
I've found these benefits being organized for the families. If anyone finds any more, please post them in the comments and I'll add here. Thanks!
SECOND UPDATE: After quoting the laid-off miner, I said I had nothing to add to this. Kossack jjellin does it for me in the comments:
I'm weak
as someone whose husband has come home (more than once) in the afternoon to say he has been laid off that day, no more job, no severance, nothing, reading your quote from the laid off mine worker has just turned my arms to jelly. I can barely type this.
I really think 'tar and feathers' was invented for a guy like that mine owner. Seriously. Can we never give him the time of day again? Please? I do not want to hear from him again. Ever. Shut the idiot up. Please.
Just sick.
Bless you, jjellin.
FINAL UPDATE: Before this diary slides into the lonely world of Savage's Page again, I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to read and comment. My first-ever recommended diary -- and on the same day Gonzo resigns! The discussion here was better than the diary itself and is a perfect example of why I love being a Kossack. I've spent way too much time here today, but as W would say -- "Having a Recommended diary on dKos is hard work!" You rock!