Speaking My Opinion

Strike by Attrition

Today on NPR I heard a knowledge person talk about the coal industry. Unless something is figured out we are going to have a big energy shortage not too far in the future.

Coal. Although coal is rarely seen these days it is a much needed product to keep a lot of things running or heated.

Coal miners, or the lack of, is the problem. Nobody wants to be a coal miner anymore. It is dangerous down in those tunnels – explosions, cave-ins, and if you get through all that black lung disease will probably get you.

The young people don’t want any part of it. Who can blame them? The average coal mine worker is in his late 50s. Once the current coal mine workers die, retire, or get killed there will be no one to replace them.

The strike for better conditions and pay will not be marching on a picket line. They will just leave by attrition and not return. The company will have to offer better incentives for the younger work force to consider being coal miners as a career.

OR

Since the American present day work force is not willing to work in the mines there are the immigrants who will probably consider it – then more Americans will get mad at immigrants for taking American jobs.

You can’t win.