President Roberts statement re: retirement of Don Blankenship from Massey Energy

UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

"The announcement this evening that Massey Energy Chairman and CEO  Don Blankenship is retiring at the end of this month brings to a close a long and difficult chapter in the history of the coal industry, one that has all too often been associated with human tragedy.

"Last spring, in the wake of the needless and senseless deaths at the Upper Big Branch mine, thousands of UMWA members, other union members and supporters marched in Richmond, protesting outside the Massey Energy annual meeting. We called for Mr. Blankenship's ouster
as head of Massey, due to the culture of production first and safety
last that he has fostered at Massey. We are gratified that this action has finally occurred.

"This also represents an opportunity for the coal industry in West Virginia and across the country to take a step away from the negative image that has cast a pall over our industry, created in large part because of the actions of Don Blankenship and Massey Energy while he has been at the company's helm. Let us take this opportunity to move forward in a reasonable, rational way as we work to overcome the many difficult issues that confront our industry."