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[inaudible] I serve notice upon the entire nation here today that our union remains unbreakable in spirit. [applause] and that in the years admittedly ahead we will achieve far greater gains than ever before. [Cheers, applause] Government intervention in our international affairs has almost always been directed against the well fed. During the last year I have visited with thousand and thousands of the of members in the field. I welcomed your invitation today to come to Virginia and to and talk with you. The trouble began most recently before a body of the United States Senate. When this investigating body was formed there were cheers from those who had hurled charges against them. [garbled] and to answer our tormentors. We welcome [inaudible] The public began to notice certain contradictions and
inconsistencies in the hysterical testimony of our accusers. The truth emerged further when George Schultz, former United States Secretary of Labor testified before the same committee. The Secretary testified that his department and the Department of Justice have made a painstaking investigation of the charges against him. The United Mine Workers have done nothing to promote the truth about it. Absolutely nothing. The Secretary said during his testimony, and I quote, "Our investigation did not disclose a sufficient basis for alleging that violence during the election period affected the outcome of the election. The charges hurled at us were false." Members of the United Mine Workers went to the polls and registered their choice of officers in a
democratic election. [applause] Immediately after the death of our late, beloved John L. Lewis, the United Mine Workers International Executive Board designated me as a United Mine Worker Trustee of our Welfare and Retirement Fund. For quite some time I had been examining the Fund's financial position and had concluded that it was sound. [listener comments "Amen"] I was deeply troubled because of $115 monthly pension payment was so inadequate. I met with the Operations Trustee and obtained his consent to increase the pensions to $150 monthly. [applause] In the eyes of outsiders---some outsiders---my actions to increase
the pension was a crime. They have sought to make your pension a political football. It was certainly gratifying to hear the former Secretary of Labor testify that they found nothing illegal, immoral or wrong in any way in our vote to raise your pensions. [applause] It appears that I was committing a crime. I was committing a crime And when I asked that these pensioners receive a major increase of $35 a month. There is more to come "[audience member "Amen"] if this membership remains united and don't let the outsiders
run you. [applause] There's more to come. I have more things in mind and some of the operators of this company know it and they can afford it and they know that I and they know I know they can afford it. We the United Mine Workers have always interpreted our Constitution to permit locals to continue an operation as long as they have numbers although our Constitution requires ten members to charter a local, the United Mine Workers does not have the right to revoke a charter just because there are less than ten working members remaining in the local. We have always taken the position that pensioners are entitled to hold membership in our union and that as full-fledged members they are entitled to vote in an election for international officers. Some outsiders charged that locals with fewer than ten working members are bogus locals and on that basis they went to court to try to deny the vote of 80,000 members
member not.
Program
UMWA 1970: A House Divided
Raw Footage
A Speech by a Union Official on Recent Legislation and Labor Issues
Contributing Organization
Appalshop, Inc. (Whitesburg, Kentucky)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/138-45q83kp4
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Description
Raw Footage Description
This clip features a speech given by a United Mine Workers of America representative. He discusses the importance of participation in democratic elections, especially for mine workers. He also emphasizes the importance of pensions for former mine workers.
Broadcast Date
1971-06-02
Asset type
Raw Footage
Genres
Unedited
Event Coverage
Topics
Social Issues
Politics and Government
Rights
No copyright statement in content
Media type
Sound
Duration
00:06:03
Embed Code
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Credits
AAPB Contributor Holdings
Appalshop, Inc. (WMMT and Appalshop Films)
Identifier: 00011162 (Appalshop Barcode)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
Generation: Original
Duration: 00:15:00
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Citations
Chicago: “UMWA 1970: A House Divided; A Speech by a Union Official on Recent Legislation and Labor Issues,” 1971-06-02, Appalshop, Inc., American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed March 28, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-138-45q83kp4.
MLA: “UMWA 1970: A House Divided; A Speech by a Union Official on Recent Legislation and Labor Issues.” 1971-06-02. Appalshop, Inc., American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. March 28, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-138-45q83kp4>.
APA: UMWA 1970: A House Divided; A Speech by a Union Official on Recent Legislation and Labor Issues. Boston, MA: Appalshop, Inc., American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-138-45q83kp4