Study finds unionization saves coal miners' lives

A new study has found that coal miners who work in unionized mines have a dramatically lower likelihood of suffering injuries and fatalities.

The research was done by Stanford University law professor Alison Morantz with funding from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. It examined coal mine fatality and injury statistics from 1993 to 2008.

Morantz found that unionization is associated with a decrease of anywhere from 17 to 33 percent in traumatic injuries, and a drop of 33 to 72 percent in fatal injuries.

"This is a groundbreaking study that quantifies the profound differences in safety underground coal miners experience when working union versus working non-union," said United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil Roberts.

Morantz observed that unionization was associated with a higher number of injuries, but she suggests that's due to different reporting practices between union and nonunion mines.

The study also found that unionization's safety effect has grown stronger since the early 1990. That's when the UMWA instituted a more comprehensive safety program and expanded training for union safety experts.

(Photo of coal miner Teach Slone from the Library of Virginia.)