Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement today wishes to mark the second anniversary of the deaths of two miners at the Pennyvenie Open Cast mine in Ayrshire on February 26th 2007 by continuing our call for a full public inquiry into health and safety in Scotland’s open cast mines. 

Colin Ferguson and Brian French died in an industry that continues to be amongst the most dangerous of any workplace. Less than one year on from the tragedy, another opencast miner, Jim Griffen died at Penneyvenie, the frourth such fatality in less than 8 years. Since the year 2000, there have been 21 fatalities and more than 2,700 injuries in UK Coal fields alone. Worldwide miners are being killed or seriously wounded on a daily basis. 

The Coalfields Solidarity Branch, which is predominately made up of open cast workers and their families, has campaigned for a public inquiry since that tragic day and last November the Solidarity Annual Conference agreed a motion backing the local branch’s campaign.  

At this time our thoughts are with the family, friends and work mates of Jim, Colin and Brian and with those working in dangerous occupations above and below ground across the world.

The motion agreed at the Solidarity Conference 2008 is as follows.