A lifetime underground: coal mining and occupational dispossession in eastern Kentucky
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Cody S. Allen (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Steve Kroll-Smith
Abstract: This thesis is focused on a workers' perspective of occupational health and safety (OHS) in eastern Kentucky. Since the late 19th century, labor unions and coal mining companies have competed for the labor and resources offered by Appalachia. To get an idea of how miners form ideological stances about OHS advocate-groups and mine companies, this report features ten semi-structured interviews with miners. Using a chronological narrative timeline, participants’ historical and contemporary ideological narratives were gathered. The interviews in this study make it apparent that miners establish experience-based networks of solidarity to make informed decisions about workplace conduct. These peer-groups serve a more important purpose than elite narratives, but in harsh economic conditions, these peer groups value economic activity over just OHS practices.
A lifetime underground: coal mining and occupational dispossession in eastern Kentucky
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Created on 12/1/2016
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2016
- Keywords
- Appalachia, Black Lung, Coal Mining, Healthcare, Ideology, Labor
- Subjects
- Coal miners $z Kentucky $x Attitudes
- Coal miners $z Kentucky $x Interviews
- Coal miners $x Labor unions $z Kentucky
- Coal miners $x Health and hygiene $z Kentucky
- Coal mines and mining $z Kentucky $x Safety measures