UMWA mourns passing of Sen. Specter, “a friend of coal miners and their families”

[TRIANGLE, VA] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“I was saddened to learn of Sunday’s passing of Sen. Arlen Specter. For as long as I knew him, Sen. Specter never once wavered in his support of coal miners and their jobs, no matter which political party he affiliated himself with.

“His outrage at the needless deaths and injuries in the nation’s coal mines led him to take a leadership role in improving mine health and safety laws. He never hesitated to call those responsible for mine fatalities and injuries to task, whether they were mine operators who failed to operate safe mines or government officials who failed to enforce safety and health laws in our mines.

“Arlen Specter was a friend of coal miners and their families, and he was a friend of mine. The entire membership of the UMWA joins me in extending our heartfelt condolences to his family.”