Our Covenant with America’s Rural Miners

Editor's Note: Cross-posted from the Blog of the U.S. Department of Labor

Secretary Solis speaks with local miners during a visit to a West Virginia mine. (Photo by Department of Labor)

From the coal that makes it possible for us to power our computers, to the sand and gravel that serves as the foundation of our nation’s infrastructure, we simply could not function as a country without the natural resources that our miners provide.

Mining and extraction industries have been key drivers of rural economic growth during our recovery, creating 80,000 new jobs in the last year alone. Nationally, this sector employs nearly 730,000 people in communities from Appalachia to the American West. For some raised in rural communities where mining is a way of life, this work is part of their family DNA, a profession “handed down” from one generation to the next. For others, a career in the mines is a ticket to a better life for their families. According to our Bureau of Labor Statistics, continuous mining machine operators have an average base pay of $48,000 a year, while supervisors earn more than $70,000.

As a member of President Obama’s Rural Council, I am committed to helping miners get the training they need to harness our natural resources in a safe and cost-effective way. As rising gas prices continue to place strains on middle class families, it’s critical that we support the workers responsible for producing our domestic energy supply.

This commitment starts with maintaining a well-qualified workforce. During the next decade, some 50,000 new workers will have to be trained to replace the mining industry’s aging labor force. Recognizing this challenge, my department has awarded grants to a variety of rural stakeholders to develop training programs tailored to meet the employment needs of local industry.

The projects are as unique as the rural communities that they serve: Penn State University is using special simulators to teach students how to operate sophisticated machinery when down in the mines. Northern Wyoming Community College partnered with Penn State and devised a mobile laboratory to give students on-site training at local coal mines. The Alaska Department of Labor increased mining apprenticeship opportunities and developed a web portal to help Alaskans find jobs in the mining and energy sectors. The College of Eastern Utah offers mining classes to Hispanics and Native Americans in their unique languages. West Virginia University’s Mine Training and Placement Center provides instruction on everything from ventilation techniques to infection control to accident prevention for mineral miners.  

But our investment in skills training is only part of our covenant with miners in rural America. The Obama administration is committed to aggressive enforcement of mine safety laws. Our country has a duty to ensure these workers return home to their families each day in the same condition they went to work.  

My department’s Mine Safety & Health Administration has rewritten our regulations to toughen worker safety standards, strengthened our enforcement efforts to identify potential hazards, partnered with mining companies to improve emergency response time and rescue capability, and cracked down on operators that cut corners on safety and put workers at risk.

It has been 14 months since the explosion at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine claimed 29 lives. I will never forget traveling to rural West Virginia to stand vigil with the miners’ families in those tense hours when rescue operations were still ongoing. For me, the lesson of the Upper Big Branch tragedy couldn’t be clearer: hazards are to be abated, mines are to be made safe and mine operators are to be held responsible for safety problems they do not fix. We owe nothing less than this strong commitment to the mining families of rural America.

Equipping Men to Become Better Fathers

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

Fatherhood is a precious gift with amazing responsibilities. Dads are always role models, good or bad, like it or not. We cannot escape the impressionable vision of our children and hopeful, loving gaze from our wives. Fortunately, I figured this out before it was too late. My faithful wife helped me realize the kind of impact I had on my children; they saw all my actions when I hoped I was invisible. Fortunately, it is never too late for redemption.

I changed course and committed to be the Father my family deserved. Now, I am focused on rewarding my wife’s loyalty and developing my children into fine young adults. This comes through putting them first and modeling servant leadership. I need to be what I want them to become, and when I fall short, I quickly come and ask for forgiveness. 

I started attending All Pro Dad breakfasts with my son, Ryan. All Pro Dads program is a program of Family First that helps equip men to become better fathers. I loved these breakfasts where we shared stories and dreams. I loved the program so much as I started another chapter at my daughter’s school where, within 3 months, we had over 200 people attending. At these meetings, I saw many other Dads having intimate and sometimes tearful, conversations with their children. Building on the success of this program, I asked the All Pro Dad Director, Darrin Gray how I could help them do more and he encouraged me to consider how translate their program into prisons.

Engaging Fathers to Stop Domestic Violence

Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

I cannot take the credit for what God has empowered me to do. I also appreciate the White House acknowledging the need to stand up and fight for victims of domestic violence by recognizing change and champions within our nation. I have found that silence is deadly when a community does not speak nor reach out to others who are in need of support. It has become one of my missions to break the generational cycle of domestic violence.

The lyrics of our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner says, “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” Yet, victims of domestic violence are never free in their home, they are always at war. I remember one Christmas Eve, my mom, brother, sister and I experienced a horrible incident of violence at the hand of my father. It was only by the Grace of God that we were able to see past that day. I am humble and honored to be here to represent fathers and survivors of domestic violence, becoming a voice within the community, reaching out to local cities, state and the nation with a message of hope, compassion and freedom.

Violence is everywhere in my community and that violence has been my personal call to action. In 1995, I was humbled to be asked to be a co-founder of Our House, Inc., domestic violence and sexual assault community project. In 2010, our agency served 2,758 men, women, and children with direct services and 9,407 adults, youth, and children participating in an Our House prevention program. I co-sponsored “A Father’s Conversation” Media Blitz to engage men in the movement to stop domestic violence in our community. This consisted of several television shows and photo showings of fathers who have been exposed to domestic violence. I have spoken to over 12,000 youth on building and maintaining healthy relationships. I have given my testimony to over 100 churches.  All in an effort to communicate to as many people as I can that it is our job to enlighten people on the strength within us to help others.

Dr. Roderick Mitchell is the Founder and Pastor of the New Life Church, Inc. of Cleveland, Mississippi, Founder and President of Exodus School of the Bible in Renova, MS, and Bishop and Founder of Miletus Covenant Connection.