MINERS: Show appreciation

I was pleased to read your recent editorial regarding negotiations between Hecla and the Lucky Friday Mine. It raised some valid points and expressed concerns that are in line with mine.

I was especially pleased to read how highly Phil Baker, CEO of Hecla Mining, thinks of his employees. It’s nice to know men, like my husband, and women are appreciated.

I admit your article did confuse my husband and me though. If Phil Baker is not behind these negotiations, then who is? Because anyone, who “prizes his workforce” as you claim Mr. Baker does, would not have proposed these changes.

Let me take a moment to say, the Union (employees) did not open the contract to make changes. Are there things the employees would like? Yes. A raise would have been nice, after all who doesn’t want a raise. More vacation? Again, everyone wants more vacation. Well-child exams covered by our insurance would also have been nice. Did the employees open the contract to ask for these things? No.

Instead, we are faced with the prospect of less money and vacation and paying our own insurance with high deductibles, among other things.

To those that say “If you are not happy just quit” then you do not understand. My husband loves his job. If he was having marital troubles he would not leave until he had done everything in his power to make things better. He will not leave the Friday until he has done everything he can to make it great again. He loves the Lucky Friday — the people, the work, the community. My husband does not want to leave.

The bottom line is that the employees may be appreciated at the corporate level but they don’t feel it. Instead they feel the contract offered is an insult. Please show your employees you value them and you respect the history of the Friday. You invested a quarter of a billion dollars in a shaft for the future. Now invest in the employees who will use the shaft.

BETHANY SANDBERG

Proud Wife of a Lucky Friday Mechanic

Wallace