Copper Crucible: How the Arizona Miners' Strike of 1983 Recast Labor-Management Relations in America

by Jonathan D. Rosenblum

A Choice Magazine "Outstanding Academic Book for 1995" "Jonathan D. Rosenblum's history of this one strike reveals to us, in chapter and verse, the barbaric use of power by the corporate big boys. It is a stunning metaphor for labor's trouble today."―Studs Terkel (from a review of the first edition) "Rosenblum writes with the verve of a good journalist and the empirical precision of a fine scholar. He is as deft at sketching brief portraits of key executives, union officials, and rank-and-file strikers as he is at untangling the legal skein in which the miners got fatally ensnared."―Michael Kazin, New York Times Book Review (from a review of the first edition) In this new edition, Jonathan D. Rosenblum describes the resurgence in 1996 and 1997 of union activism at Local 890 in Silver City, New Mexico, the famous "Salt of the Earth" union. Phelps Dodge obliterated all the unions at its Arizona properties in the devastating 1983 campaign of permanent replacement documented in Copper Crucible. The company later acquired the Chino mine in western New Mexico; with the copper ore came the elements of union rebirth. When Phelps Dodge officials argued that "while unions may have had a purpose in the past, that time is gone," they rekindled the union's fighting spirit, according to Rosenblum. Local 890 beat back Phelps Dodge's 1996 decertification campaign, handing the company its first major setback against unions in fifteen years.

Genres: Labor, American History, History, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1994

Reviews

[Timothy McCluskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife's father was involved in this stike. Angel Rodriquez was heroic but the union's analysis was outdated and the consequences were horrific for the families. The company had tried to break the union for more than 20 years and they finally accomplished it

[Ryan Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A piece of American History I was totally unfamiliar with. An incredible story of bravery, corruption, and conflict.

[Louise Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was required reading for a class on conflict resolution. Very well researched and interesting .

[Shaun Richman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reagan firing the air traffic controllers was symbolic. The way that Phelps-Dodge busted its union in 1983 - documented here - became the blueprint.

[Katie]

Read for a class studying conflict, was expecting it to be hard to get through but this was a compelling read, especially for someone who is not typically excited by historical accounts.

[Jim Cupples · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a terrible labor strike in Arizona in the early/mid 80s. The author had great access to the principal players. The union mishandled it (mostly the national Steelers union) and the corporation behaved terribly - they clearly violated labor practices looking back at what transpired. The mine workers had practically everything stacked against them, and they ended up getting wiped out.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book introduced me to an important part of American history. I found the story fascinating, however, I think parts of the book were too granular or repetitive. In the end, I'm glad I read it.