Jack Battuello Memoir #1 - University of Illinois Springfield

Jack Battuel.10
went down into the mines for
greater. Is this correct?
the first time the dangers were much
A. Now, in this early period, about which I speak, the conditions
were not only hazardous, but the negligence on the part of the company
was notorious. I'd like to believe that conditions in the. mine have
improved in the modern age, and under federal statutes, but I'm
afraid that it is still very much a hazardous-a very hazardous
occupation.
Q. The accidents; the loss of life, loss of limbs, the maiming of
people who were working underground; I imagine was very widespread,
is this correct?
A. Thar's correct.
9. Would you say that the accident rate among the youngsters was
greater, about the same, or less than among the grown-ups?
A. On an equal basis. 1'd like to make an exception, however. As
the unions began to gain strength and power there were many areas
within the United Mine Workers' jurisdiction in which the militancy
of the miners was perhaps a little greater than other sections, In
those cases the conditions in the mines were fairly well determined
by the militancy and the concern of the miners, and therefore, conditions
and fatalities and even injuries were on a smaller scope.
Q. Were the teenagers or chil.dren being admitted to the union membership
in those days?
A. Oh yes, full membership,
Q. Now, wou1.d you think back and give us a nutshell view as to what
your views--and perhaps as much as you can speak for others--the views
of the miners in general; what they thought of their union, why they
wanted to be members of the union, what th,ey expected the union to
accomplish for them; more in this vein.
A. Primarily, we bccamc union members because of necessity, We were
seeking, plainly speaking, to escape from exploitation and slavery.
Q. Again, thinking back with respect of the views which had gone by
since that time, would you fcel that the unions in general--and
specifically the miner's union--have properly and collectively
fulfilled the miner's expectations of them?
A. No, I don't. I'd like to make this comparison between the early
cditinn of the miner's union with it's present conremporary counterpart.
In those days the miners, and all of the workers for that
matter, were gravely concerned about the social issues. They were
concerned about providing a proper living far their families. And
Jack Battuello Memoir -- Archives, University of Illinois at Springfield