In a decision being regarded as a victory for miners' rights, a U.S. Court of Appeals rejected an appeal by Cordero Mining LLC of Gillette, Wyo., in a worker discrimination case.
Cindy L. Clapp, a shovel operator with 28 years of experience as a miner, filed a complaint with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in May of 2010, claiming she was terminated in retaliation for her repeated safety complaints. Clapp claimed that her unlawful discharge had a chilling effect on the willingness of other miners to raise safety issues at the mine.