Power, Inc., operated a surface coal mine in central Pennsylvania. Financial losses led it to lay off a number of employees. After that, several employees contacted the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), which began an organizing drive at the company. Power’s general manager and foreman both warned the miners that if the company was unionized, it would be shut down. An office manager told one of the miners that the company would get rid of union supporters. Shortly before the election was to take place, Power laid off 13 employees, all of whom had signed union cards.

One employee, who had not signed a union card, had low seniority but was not laid off.

Later, one of Power’s lawyers told several miners that anyone caught helping the 13 laidoff workers by contributing to a union hardship fund would “be out there looking for help from somebody else.” Comment.