Unions Resurgent? Let's hope!

United Mine Workers of America local 1702 staged a wildcat action against the Blacksville #2 mine in West Virginia over the appearance of ultra-right wing NRA filmmakers attempting to get their members to speak out against Barrack Obama.

More than 440 workers who are members of the United Mine Workers of America took what's called a Memorial Day instead of going to work.

Union officials say they took the day to protest after a film crew from the National Rifle Assocation showed up at the Consol mine last week to interview union workers.

They say the crew tried to get union coal miners to speak out against Barak Obama.

The UMWA has endorsed the democratic presidential nominee.

The strike lasted just 24 hours but sent a clear message to mine management that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated by labor.

"This was a surprise visit," explained VP Local 1702, Safety Chairman Eric Greathouse, "and a lot of the miners felt this was a direct slap in the face of the union because they were trying to coerce our people into saying things against Barck Obama."

"Consol doesn't let anybody on their property - never," said Safety Committee Member Mark Dorsey, "And for them to let the NRA come on the property and solicit our membership was totally uncalled for. We made our endorsement to our political process and we didn't bother them and they shouldn't be harassing our membership over this."

It's good to see labor unions flexing a little muscle against the forces of right-wing ideology.