Fatal refinery, mine blasts sadden and outrage unions

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?news_6_4432

By Mark Gruenberg
11 April 2010

WASHINGTON - Fatal explosions at a refinery in Washington state and a coal mine in West Virginia saddened and outraged unions, which sent help for hurting families and investigative teams to the two sites while criticizing the companies involved for putting profits before people.
The first explosion and fire occurred on April 2 at the Tesoro petroleum refinery in Anacortes, Wash. It killed five Steelworkers: Matthew C. Bowen, 31, Darrin J. Hoines, 43, Daniel J. Aldridge, 50, Kathryn Powell, 29, and Donna Van Dreumel, 36. All were members of Local 12-591, a former Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers local. Steelworker Matt Gumbel, 34, and supervisor Lew Janz, 41, a former USW member, were severely burned and hospitalized in critical condition.

The second explosion, on April 6 at the non-union Massey Coal Co., mine in Whitesville, W. Va., killed 25 miners and left four more missing.

Both the United Steelworkers and the United Mine Workers dispatched investigative teams to the sites, even though Massey’s management is aggressively anti-union and even though the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia is non-union.

Democratic President Barack Obama got involved, too. Noting the West Virginia blast caused the most fatalities in 25 years, he demanded preliminary reports on its cause – and what the feds can do to stop future explosions.

“This is a very difficult time for the families, friends and co-workers of these employees as well as for the entire work force at the refinery. Our thoughts and our prayers go out to them,” said USW President Leo Gerard after the Tesoro explosion and fire. “Kathryn Powell and Donna Van Dreumel were true Women of Steel.”

FULL story at link.