The United Mine Workers of America 1970: A House Divided

“If the rank and file membership don’t take over their local unions and elect officers got some guts, they might as well throw up their hands and quit, for they got nothin’ now, not like it was when we organized.”

Overview

In 1970, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) president W.A. (Tony) Boyle was under indictment for union funds misuse and suspected of murdering outspoken union reform advocate Jock Yablonski and his family in 1969. The film intercuts Boyle’s speech at a Big Stone Gap, Virginia rally with mining scenes and interviews with miners from the UMWA.