Senate Oks Lifting Mining Hours Limits

Legislation repealing the eight-hours-a-day limit on underground mine work passed the Senate on a 20-10 vote Friday, and now moves to the House.

Sen. Gordon Crow, R-Hayden, led the debate in favor of the change.”There are miners and mining companies out there that would like to put this into effect right away,” Crow said. He said modern conditions mean the limit no longer is needed.

The legislation includes an emergency clause, so it would go into effect immediately.

Sen. Lin Whitworth, D-Inkom, argued against it. “It’s easy for us to say, standing here in our nice suits, working in clean, comfortable conditions, that things have changed. But when you’re actually in a mine shaft working, eight hours a day is plenty.”

Sen. Mary Lou Reed, D-Coeur d’Alene, also spoke against the bill. “It’s still one of the most dangerous occupations you could have,” she said.

Crow, former spokesman for a mining industry group, said miners want the change so they can work longer shifts and shorter work weeks. When the measure was in committee, the AFL-CIO testified against it. , DataTimes