Vicious attack on Massey Energy is union propaganda

United Mine Workers organizer Donnie Samms' fallacious statementsclaiming Don Blankenship's business practices are acts of violenceare ludicrous.

Dust comes with mining coal. Spills come as a result of too muchrain. Trucks make noise. Fatalities in and around the mines are alltragic, unfortunate accidents.

How could Samms in good conscience imply that Blankenshipintentionally causes these things to happen? Contrary to his UMWpropaganda, Massey Energy does support its members and contributesmore to this state than any other coal producer here.

Samms refuses to see all the good and productive things MasseyEnergy does because of his ties with the UMW. My question to him iswhat has the UMW done for the communities and people of Southern WestVirginia?

It seems to me there are but two things on his agenda: tocontinually attack Massey, to try to cause contention in thecommunities it supports, and to try to protect its members who aretoo sorry to work from being terminated.

Does Samms think that may be the reason coal companies choose tooperate non-union, or not at all, in this state?

If he wants to hear some real horror stories, go talk to thewidows and family members of Hayes West or Eddie York. They can givehim the definition of violence firsthand.

It would appear that Samms' time would be better spent polishinghis recruiting skills as a UMW organizer than attacking the characterof Blankenship. The UMW's dwindling membership clearly indicates thatthere is room for improvement.

Carl Hubbard

Beckley

Hubbard is vice president of Heritage Equipment Inc.