In Honor of Labor Day - "Which Side Are You On?" by Natalie Merchant

[IndyOp]

Run time: 05:04 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfBWShFEKSI   Posted on YouTube: December 11, 2006 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 03, 2007 By DU Member: IndyOp Views on DU: 3895

 
My grandfather mined coal in Colorado, Ohio, and Kentucky for Peabody Coal. Coal miners, through United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), have fought for generations for safe working conditions. And now, it feels to many as if they are forced back to square one...

Long ago...



Sago mine disaster in the U.S. state of West Virginia last year claimed the lives of 12 miners and led to criticism about the lack of government oversight. Pictures of the 12 lost... http://blog.aflcio.org/?p=546


Last Year’s (2006) Coal Mine Deaths Increase 210 Percent Over 2005

The 12 coal miners killed in a Jan. 2, 2006, explosion at the Sago Mine in West Virginia were the first to die. On Dec. 17, John Elliot, killed in a roof collapse at the Dana Co.’s Prime No. 1 Mine near Maidsville, W.Va., was the 47th and last coal miner killed on the job last year, the deadliest year in the nation’s coal mines since 1996.

http://tinyurl.com/yhxb4j

[EVDebs]

1. John Sayle's Matewan should be required viewing....

and ask anybody if they even know about the Ludlow Massacre,

http://www.umwa.org/history/ludlow.shtml

...same detective agency from the Ludlow Massacre was brought in to do a similar act in Matewan WV. I loved Sayle's showing the church as the only way the message could get out !

[IndyOp]

3. I am glad to hear your recommendation for "Matewan" - I will look for it on

I will look for it on Netflix.

:hi:

[unhappycamper]

2. Here's a Labor Day k&r

She may be a bit weird, but I like Natalie Merchant a lot.

[dembotoz]

4. which side are you on

pretty good campaign button for the upcoming election...

[The Count]

5. From a comment on you tube - the lyrics origin:

(Reply) (Spam)
Florence Reece wrote this song in 1931. Her husband, Sam, was one of the union leaders, and Sheriff J. H. Blair and his men came to her house in search of him when she was alone with her seven children. They ransacked the whole house and then kept watch outside, ready to shoot Sam down if he returned. One day during this tense period Mrs. Reece tore a sheet from a wall calendar and wrote the words to "Which Side Are You On?

[Redstone]

6. Good God. I have chills all over now. I'm recommending this post, and I'd like to ask

what CD of hers that song is on, because I want to go buy it, right now.

Redstone

[EVDebs]

7. Let's tip our hats to Sid Hatfield too. I hope the Chicks write one for him

http://www.umwa.org/history/matewan.shtml