Opinion ID: 454641
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Metric's Violation of Section 105(c)(1).

Text: 7 Metric does not challenge the Commission's finding that Complainants engaged in a protected work refusal. Instead, Metric argues that the Commission erred in finding that Metric discharged Complainants in violation of section 105(c)(1) of the Mine Act. Because it offered Complainants the opportunity to do what work was available, that is, the jobs to which they were originally assigned, Metric contends that no discharge in fact occurred. Metric submits that essential to a finding of a discharge is the denial to an employee of an opportunity to do available work. Because the employment here was temporary, no alternative work existed; because Complainants were offered what work was available, Complainants cannot be said to have been discharged. Further, Metric states that because section 105(c)(1) does not obligate the operator to correct any alleged safety problems in work conditions, it satisfied its duty under that section by allowing Complainants to continue their employment, which they refused. 8 In affirming the ALJ's conclusion that Metric's termination of Complainants violated section 105(c)(1), the Commission determined that substantial evidence supported the ALJ's finding that Metric did not have a reasonable belief that the work conditions were safe when it gave Complainants the option of returning to those conditions or not working at all. The Commission found persuasive Metric's total failure to investigate the safety complaints. As the Commission stated, 9 If an operator may take action which adversely affects miners when it does not have a basis for a reasonable belief that the complained-of conditions are safe, and without addressing the miner's fears, the exercise of the right to register safety complaints and to refuse work will be chilled. 10 Metric II, 6 FMSHRC at 231. Because Metric's belief that the work conditions were safe was unreasonable, and Complainants' belief that the conditions were unsafe was reasonable, the Commission accepted the ALJ's conclusion that the discharge of Complainants was discriminatory and a violation of section 105(c)(1) of the Mine Act. 11 We affirm the Commission's determination that Metric discharged Complainants in violation of section 105(c)(1). The Commission's findings that Complainants held a good faith belief that their work conditions were hazardous, and that they were discharged as a result of engaging in protected activity is supported by substantial evidence. 3 See section 106(a)-(b) of the Mine Act, 30 U.S.C. Sec. 816(a)-(b) (on judicial review of a Commission order, the findings of the Commission with respect to questions of fact, if supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole shall be conclusive). Congress enacted the Mine Act out of concern for the health and safety of miners. See 30 U.S.C. Sec. 801; Sewell Coal Co. v. FMSHRC, 686 F.2d 1066, 1071 (4th Cir.1982). The anti-discrimination provision, section 105(c)(1), is to be interpreted expansively to effect this concern. See Donovan ex rel. Anderson v. Stafford Construction Co., 732 F.2d 954, 961 (D.C.Cir.1984); Boich v. FMSHRC, 704 F.2d 275, 283, vacated on other grounds, 719 F.2d 194 (6th Cir.1983). To accept Metric's position that it satisfied its obligation under section 105(c)(1) by offering Complainants the choice of returning to the hazardous conditions or going home would run counter to the strong remedial purpose of the Mine Act. Metric's argument that it had no alternative work available for Complainants is without merit. We agree with the Commission's decision that Metric's conduct constituted a violation of section 105(c)(1). See Boich, 704 F.2d at 280, (quoting Ford Motor Co. v. NLRB, 441 U.S. 488, 497, 99 S.Ct. 1842, 1849, 60 L.Ed.2d 420 (1979)) (an interpretation of the Mine Act by the Commission that is reasonably defensible should be upheld).