Joseph A. "Jock" Yablonski (1910-1969)
California, Washington County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
A longtime resident of California and elected official of the United Mine Workers of America. He led efforts to improve working conditions for coal miners. On December 31, 1969--shortly after his defeat as a reform candidate for president of the UMW--he, his wife Margaret, and their daughter Charlotte were assassinated. In 1972, reformers were elected to leadership of the UMW.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Joseph "Jock" Yablonski spent his life in the coalfields as a United Mine Workers official fighting to improve conditions for miners. After losing a reform bid for the union presidency in 1969, he, his wife Margaret, and their daughter Charlotte were assassinated in their home on December 31 in a killing traced to union leadership. The outrage over the murders fueled a reform movement that swept new leaders into the UMW in 1972.
Why it matters
Yablonski's death exposed corruption at the heart of American organized labor and became a catalyst for union democracy and mine-safety reform.
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Related people
- · Joseph "Jock" Yablonski
Themes & tags
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