More miners back on the job after filing discrimination complaints
Stepped-up efforts by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to educate miners about their safety and health rights, investigate discrimination complaints and take legal action have led to a marked increase in the number of miners temporarily reinstated to their jobs after filing complaints of discrimination in the form of a suspension, layoff, discharge or other adverse action.
The number of requests for temporary reinstatements the department submitted on behalf of miners who filed discrimination complaints more than tripled from the period of fiscal years 2007-2009 to the period of FY 2010-2012 (through July 31, 2012), increasing from 22 to 71. Additionally, the department filed 70 complaints alleging mine safety discrimination during the period of FY 2010-2012 (through July 31, 2012), up from 39 from FY 2007-2009.