Feature Stories
Real Life Mining Stories Leadership Lessons: Leaders Responsible for Communication & Relationships
June 22, 2012
One of my most important safety tools as a supervisor in the coal mines was an anemometer. The anemometer (a round device with fan-like blades) measured the flow of air. Twice a day, by state law, I was required to
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: It Takes Leaders & Followers to Build Great Things
May 9, 2012
On May 20, 2007, I was a featured speaker on a tour of “The Little Cities of Black Diamond.” South of Nelsonville, we passed the Eclipse Company Town built to house coal miners and their families around 1900. On the
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Don’t Leave Leadership Training to Chance
April 17, 2012
From 1974 through 1976 the coal mine in which I worked experienced a number of wildcat strikes. Several of these strikes lasted more than a week. During this time, I was a member of the United Mine Workers of America
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Dialogue Essential Between Managers, Workers
April 10, 2012
An almost mystical occurrence in mining culture of the 1970s was the wildcat strike. Wildcat strikes were a show of power by the union. The philosophy of some union officials was to strike first and talk later. However, the company’s
Helping Make Wishes Come True
April 3, 2012
This year, the CONSOL Energy Golf Outing and Dinner on Saturday, May 19 at Cedarbrook Golf Course, celebrates 16 years of making wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Since its start in
Coal: The Rock That Burns
March 21, 2012
Coal is very low on the scale of subjects for ballads or charming folklore. Like Rodney Dangerfield, it just doesn’t get any respect. What does a naughty boy get in his Christmas stocking? A lump of coal. As a career,
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Respectful Power Creates Success
March 21, 2012
The coal mining process with which I had the most experience is called Room and Pillar. A continuous miner cut five tunnels and crosscuts to connect them on 60-foot centers. Mining in this way left 40-foot blocks of coal to
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Leaders Focus on Small and Large Safety Rules
March 7, 2012
One day while in the coal mine, we were forced to evacuate due to a mine fire. Later, we learned that a track haulage motor while carrying a piece of equipment had gotten caught against a piece of live trolley
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Leaders Improve Culture Through Dialogue
February 15, 2012
In the 1970s, “greasing” is a well-documented and nasty ritual in the underground coal mining culture involving veteran and new miners. In most cases, greasings happened at the end of the shift when the men were preparing to leave the
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Tips to Resolve Conflicts at Work
January 27, 2012
When I was a member of the United Mine Workers of America, I believed it was my duty and in my personal interest to understand the contract inside out. I read it over and over again and soon felt I
