Oral history interview with John Palmer and Teresa A. Palmer, 2022
Abstract
John and Teresa Palmer discuss their lives in West Virginia, and John reflects on his career as a coal miner, including his service as president of United Mine Workers of America (UMW) Local 1570 during the years of the Obama presidency. John speaks widely about the recent history of the coal industry in West Virginia, describing the changing ownership of the mines; the evolution of UMW and Local 1 570; strikes, walk-outs, and other direct actions over safety conditions, pensions, and healthcare coverage; relations with regulatory agencies, the National Labor Relations Board, and local police departments; the changing demography of miners; and the increasing proportion of non-union miners. The Palmers also share stories about the tight and supportive community of Local 1570, and consider the political trajectory of their home county, where a majority of citizens voted for Obama in the 2008 presidential election and for Donald Trump in the 2016 election. Also discussed are Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis' visit to Federal No. 2 Mine in August 2009, the Palmers' experience of Democratic and Republican presidential administrations, the operations of a long-wall mine, and the local reception of the actual and perceived actions taken by the Obama administration to reduce coal-related pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
Presidents--United States; Coal trade--History--West Virginia; Coal mines and mining--History--West Virginia; Coal mines and mining--Management--West Virginia; Labor leaders; Labor movement--History--21st century.--United States; Direct action; General strikes; Industrial safety--Law and legislation--United States; Hazardous occupations--United States; Longwall mining--United States; West Virginia Social conditions; Palmer, John; Palmer, Theresa; Obama, Barack; United Mine Workers of America
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2022
Physical Description
75 pages
Note (Biographical)
John and Teresa Palmer are a married couple from West Virginia. During the years of the Obama presidency, John Palmer served as president of United Mine Workers of America Local 1570, which was attached to the Federal No. 2 Mine in Fairfield, West Vir ginia. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis visited the Federal No. 2 mine in August 2009
Note
Interviewed by Peter Bearman on July 27, 2022. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
John Palmer and Teresa A. Palmer, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2023