Working in a Coal Mine By Chloe and Shelby

Coal Coal is used primarily as an energy source, either for heat or electricity. It was also used for transportation devices, such as trains.

Who worked in the mines? Everyone, including women, children, and men, used to work inside of the coal mines, but a law was passed making it so that only men could be employed to work underground. Women and children could still be employed, but only for jobs above ground.

Jobs Women- they had to carry/pull loads of coal to the surface and Kids- they were employed as hurriers or trappers. Men- they mined the actual coal and ensured safety and kept everyone working.

Harms & insurance Minors (men, women, and children), could die of explosions, gasses, and flooding. At this time, there was no insurance. If a worker on site got hurt, the owners wouldn’t allow him to continuing working until he was cured.

Mining in Zimbabwe Mimosa Mining Company They mine platinum It is worth $500 per oz

Company owner Most workers in Zimbabwe are on fixed term contracts. There are no online resources to clarify who the owner of Mimosa Mining Company is, what insurances they have that cover injuries, or if they employ women and children.

Labour laws There are laws against child labour in Zimbabwe.

Coal mining unions Most coal miners belong to a union, although we couldn’t find much information on the internet. Union- The action or fact of joining together or being joined together, esp. in a political context. It ensures that the workers get paid their fair salary It ensures that the workers are properly equipped with safety gear It also ensures that the workers get their fair amount of time off from work There are fees involved when you belong to a union.

scabs Scabs are people who are hired by the company after their workers go on strike or they lock them out. The scabs get paid less money than the regular workers so that the company can still make more money. When they cross the picket line they get scabb’d by the other union members (forced and shunned out of their jobs).

Dangers 3 dangers that miners face today include explosions, toxic air, and suffocation. These dangers can’t always be avoided, there are safety precautions to follow so that this will not happen to you in the mines. It will cost more money, especially for the company to make sure that you are safe. Most of the time workers are not willing to pay the extra money for the equipment that will avoid these dangers.

The Raven Underground coal project It is a proposed coal mine site located in Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. People would want to work in this proposed coal mine because they would make 7% more income than the average British Columbia mine employee. It will create more than 350 full time well paying jobs. It will be good for B.C because it will contribute 1.1 million dollars to the local economy.

Baynes sound Provincial and federal laws state that this project must protect shellfish, salmon, and other aquatic species including the Baynes Sound company. This law was made because there was talk in the community about how this project would have negative impacts in the waterways.

Roberta stevenson She is worried that the Raven mine project will overthrow the shellfish industry and that the shellfish industry has a major economic asset in the Comox Valley and has been in great demand. $28 million is created by the growing population in Comox.

Water bodies that could be affected include Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, Union Bay, Tsable River, and Wilfred Creek These water bodies carry salmon and shellfish which are worth big dolla $$$.

Our opinion In our opinion, the Raven Underground Coal project is a good idea. Since they made laws to protect the aquatic species, it wouldn’t do much harm to the salmon and shellfish industries, which are worth millions of dollars. It will create many jobs and give the local economy a huge boost.