Mine Bulletin Board

[FreddyE1977]

Being within earshot of the Mountain State of West Virginia, I have for many years noticed that WWVA-AM out of Wheeling will break into their programming three times per day to air something called the Mine Bulletin Board.

Basically it is a public service announcement aimed at Coal Miners, aired an hour or so before the next shift is supposed to start. They will run through a list of announcements that sound something like "#2 Cove Creek Mine, third shift, will work. #2 Cove Creek Mine, third shift, will work." (it is always repeated twice).
I am assuming that is to let the miners know whether or not to report to work for their next scheduled shift, or whether some issue (equipment breakdown, slow demand, etc.) should cause them to stay home. I also assume that it is on a 50kW signal to reach as much of the state as possible.

Does such a program exist in other areas of the country where mining is an important industry? And are there any other programs aimed at factory workers or others who would need this information?

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Mining is fairly important in southern Indiana, but I've never heard of a program like this here. I've heard plenty of reports for workers. "Due to the expected snow storm, all county schools will be closed on Tuesday. Third shift tonight is canceled at Delphi Automotive and Northern Automotive."

Just never "Third shift should report as usual"

 

[trusty]

Here's a quote from this blog that I found:

"In any local coal town in the 1960s, when the kids were getting ready for school, WWVA was usually on. Not only was it the big clear-channel country station back then, but it also had the daily mine shift report just before six in the morning, two in the afternoon and ten at night. When we stumbled downstairs, Mom already had Dad's lunch bucket on the counter (assuming he was going out on day shift). "Here is the mine shift report for Tuesday," the announcer would say. In those days, there were dozens of local mines, so it took a while for him to read each line twice with emphasis on the status: "Consolidation Coal Company, Alexander Mine, Moundsville Portal, will work. Consolidation Coal Company, Alexander Mine, Moundsville Portal, will work." While we finished dressing, while we ate breakfast, that steady chant reminded us that times were good, Dad had a steady job with excellent pay, and there was a rightness to our world. The occasional day when the mine wasn't going to run was no huge problem for us. In fact, summer mornings could be downright funny: "North American Coal Corporation Number Three mine, Big Run portal, no work." Picture Dad getting as far as "Hey, we ought to load up and go fish--" before the dratted rest of the announcement: "...no, work, mechanics report." Not only was Dad going to have to work on a sunny summer day, but he was also going to have to watch everybody else sail by with their families and fishing gear."

 

[rip-n-read]

Well times are certainly different for America's workers. I suppose now you could do the three-times-a-day layoff report. "Clear Channel mine employees, report to unemployment office. Clear Channel mine employees, report to unemployment office."