The UMWA: Its Presidents in Historical Perspective -- Part III
Kennedy went into the mines when he was 11 years old as a breaker boy. Over the years he became familiar with every facet of coal mining and its problems, and he "made some notable contributions to the literature of the industry in reports to the U.S. Coal Commission in 1923." During World War II, Kennedy, who was well respected in the labor community, served on the War Labor Board.
One writer claims that, along with Philip Murray and John L. Lewis, Kennedy comprised "the triumvirate of negotiators and policy-makers which dominated the councils of the miners."
When Kennedy died in 1963, he was succeeded by W. A. "Tony" Boyle, one-time president of Montana coal miners. Boyle had been an assistant to John L. Lewis from 1947 until he was elected vice-president.
According to one source, Boyle "steered the . . . union down the road to decay. Under both Lewis and Boyle, democratic procedures were ignored. Collective bargaining procedures were centralized, and union members had little voice in the process." Boyle and other officers wasted millions from the treasury, collaborated with coal operators, and ignored the push for coal mine health and safety legislation."
Boyle was not well liked, as Lewis had been, and he faced opposition from the time he took office. Miners began to change their attitude toward the UMWA, particularly the bargaining process, and often after contract agreements were signed, they would walk off the job in protest. Coal miners were dissatisfied and filed millions of dollars in lawsuits against the UMWA, many of which the union lost.
Opposition to Boyle eventually took the form of a democratic reform movement. In 1969, Boyle was challenged by Jock Yablonski; Boyle won the election, which was notable for its illegalities. Yablonski declared that his followers would not give up. Soon after, however, Yablonski, his wife, and daughter were murdered.
In May 1972, the federal Department of Labor overturned the 1969 election, "citing massive irregularities, and ordered a new election with full government supervision." As a result, Boyle was sentenced to five years in jail and ordered to pay a $130,000 fine; however, he remained free on appeal and was able to campaign.
The new election pitted Boyle against Arnold Miller. While campaigning Miller was asked why he believed he - "a repairman from Cabin Creek [West Virginia] with a ninth-grade education -- [was] capable of running a union." Miller replied: "First of all, I'm honest and I'm
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