Fighting to keep low wage jobs

LETTER: Tribe not concerned about air quality

To the Telegram: Mike Wiggins Jr., chairman of the Bad River Indian Nation claims to be concerned about “air quality” in an article published June 13 when it comes to iron ore mines, yet workers employed in the Bad River Casino are forced to work in a smoke-filled workplace, which is more devastating to human health than any mine would be.

To the Telegram:
Mike Wiggins Jr., chairman of the Bad River Indian Nation claims to be concerned about “air quality” in an article published June 13 when it comes to iron ore mines, yet workers employed in the Bad River Casino are forced to work in a smoke-filled workplace, which is more devastating to human health than any mine would be.

Mike Wiggins Jr. doesn’t want to discuss the quality of air in casinos ... this was his only response to me when I tried to broach the issue with him.

Putting an end to smoking in a casino is very simple — a few cheap signs would do the trick.

Mike Wiggins Jr. has lost all credibility when he talks about how an iron ore mine would cause a deterioration in air quality when the smoke in the casino where he has the power to actually do something for an improvement in air quality, for improving human health, and he does nothing. What a hypocrite Mike Wiggins Jr. is.

The real reason Mike Wiggins Jr. opposes this iron ore mining operation so close to his smoke-filled casino is the Bad River Casino would have to compete with the high wages of the mining industry as casino workers rush to get out of this smoke-filled casino for better wages and a healthier working environment.

Come on Mike, tell the truth; it is the high wages of the mining industry you really are opposed to that you are so loathe to have to compete with.

By the way, Mike, how much do you pay casino workers for risking their health working in your smoke-filled casino?

Does Mike Wiggins Jr. not know about the cancers, heart and lung problems and complications for those suffering from diabetes attributable to second-hand smoke?

I challenge Mike Wiggins Jr. to respond to me and explain: Why, if he is so concerned about air quality, he continues to allow smoking in the Bad River Casino?

And what about all of these politicians opposing this mine depriving workers of better pay and a healthier working environment than that provided by the Indian Gaming Industry, which — coincidentally? — contributes very lavishly to their campaign coffers?

And what about all these so called “environmental organizations” consisting of muddle-headed middle class intellectuals who use this anti-mining crap as a ploy to stuff envelopes begging for contributions complaining about “air quality” when they sit in their smoke-free offices and remain silent as over two-million workers across the country are forced to work in these smoke-filled casinos?

Alan L. Maki,
director of organizing,
Midwest Casino Workers
Organizing Council
Warroad, Minn.

http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/article/id/67551/group/Opinion/