What Is The Phelps Dodge Strike

In 1983 the Phelps Dodge Corporation was faced with slew of decisions that eventually lead to strained relations with its mining workforce in Arizona. Faced with decreasing copper prices, an economic recession, increase competition from international mines, Phelps Dodge Corporation began to lose millions of dollars in profit. This forced Phelps Dodge to search for cost cutting measures. In my opinion the Phelps Dodge Corporation took the easiest route by attempting to cut cost by presenting an offer to the unions which included slashing wages, freezing COLA, decreasing paid time off, and loss of other benefits. In the eyes of Phelps Dodge these cuts were necessary to weather the storm of the recession and a response to the decrease in

Breaking up the unions would allow Phelps Dodge to institute its pay and benefit cuts with little resistance. Ray Isner, one of the Morenci miners believed that Phelps Dodge had been planning for a long time to get rid of the unions. A year after the strike began Phelps Dodge sought a union decertification election by using a change to federal labor law which stated striking workers who have been permanently replaced cannot vote in a decertification election held more than one year after the strike. Phelps Dodge was using every legal maneuver at its disposal to strip the unions of their power but due to the resistance in the courts from the unions the decertification vote wasn't held until 1987. By then the strike had already taken its toll on the

From the Phelps Dodge Corporation standpoint their biggest conflict was between them and the unions to include the United Steelworkers of America and Women's Auxiliary Group. The conflict was regarding the issue of fair pay and safe working environment led to this unfortunate situation. Phelps Dodge was not willing to compromise and thought that it could impose its will against the striking workers. The corporation had many tools at its disposal to use against the striking workers in an attempt to force them to accept their terms. They owned most of the housing that the miners and their families occupied, they also owned the major items of infrastructure in most of the mining towns. Phelps Dodge was able to gain media support and the support of law enforcement. Furthermore, they had the support of the state and the local governments. Phelps Dodge was willing to go as far as necessary in order to achieve its goals for running profitable mines staffed by seasoned miners even if that meant breaking families, communities, and the unions.
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The Arizona miners' strike changed the lives of all who were involved. The striking miners were forced to alter their lifestyles while out of work while accepting financial support from the unions. Women who often stayed home now were either out at the picket line in support of their striking husbands or they were now working in an attempt to support their