Rushton Project, Sunshine Mining Disaster, and Other Mining Safety Research, 1966/1988

Containers:
Box 197
Scope and content:

This box contains material related to the Rushton Mining Company and the Rushton Project (1972-1976). The Rushton Quality of Work Project attempted to improve Mine Safety & Health as well as Labor Relations in an experiment sanctioned by the Coal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1969 - which permitted the Union & Company to suspend traditional labor and contract laws as well as certain provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Safety & Health Act of 1969 and to experiment with a cooperative negotiation-based agreement. This occurred at the Rushton Mine in Pennsylvania and JDM was the Chief UMWA National Officer involved. Also included in this box is research on the Sunshine Mining Company in Idaho and a disaster that occurred there in May of 1972. The Sunshine Mining Company was a silver mine in Kellogg, Idaho; JDM researched this incident during his work with Ralph Nader and afterward provided testimony to House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on Labor members in support of mine safety reform. Other miscellaneous files related to additional research conducted by JDM on mining employee safety and health are also included. These papers include clippings, reports, correspondence, government documents, court documents, and notes.

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

Audiovisual materials must be digitized for research access. Researchers may access these materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department.

Parent restrictions:
Box 150, Miscellaneous Material from JDM's MSHA Work (Part 1), contains restricted material, possibly including PII and financial information. Please contact the West Virginia and Regional History Center to request access.Audiovisual materials must be digitized for research access. Researchers may access these materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia Regional History Center reference department.
Parent terms of access:
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.