Interview with Joseph A. Scopa, June 16, 1987

Interview Summary

In this second interview with Joseph Scopa, he discusses his role in the roving pickets' movement of the early 1960s in more detail. He talks about the sweetheart contracts that union field representatives were making with coal operators. Under the terms of these contracts some operators were exempt from paying the forty cents per ton royalty to the union's health and retirement fund. Scopa maintains that these agreements were not fair and that the Roving Pickets were formed to stop such practices.

Mr. Scopa later played a prominent role in the Miners for Democracy movement which formed after the murder of Joseph “Jock” Yablonski, a union official. He was directly responsible for bringing Arnold Miller to Evarts, Kentucky to speak to miners there. Scopa also talks about the violence and threats directed against him, his family, and his property as a result of his revolt against the union officials in District 19 who had planned the assassination of Yablonski.

Interview Keyword

"sweetheart contracts" Arnold Miller coal camp violence Coal Mining Harlan County Kentucky Miners for Democracy Roving Pickets

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal mines and mining Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Coal mines and mining--Kentucky--History Scopa, Joseph A. Scopa, Joseph A.--Interviews

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.