On January 14, 2021, workers at Glancy Surface Mine located in Boone County, West Virginia were successful in reaching an agreement after a four-year battle for union representation. The miners are now members of UMWA Local Union 1503.
On August 3, 2017, Glancy Surface Mine voted for union representation to improve the jobs and lives of all that worked at the mine. The company, Rockwell Mining, LLC, objected to the election which resulted in litigation that lasted for over two years, until November 18, 2019.
The United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Court ruled that Glancy Surface Mine must bargain with the UMWA.
Bargaining between the UMWA and Glancy Surface Mine began in December 2019 and continued until January 2021. On January 14, 2021, not only was a tentative agreement reached and voted on, Glancy Surface Mine’s first contract was agreed to by a 100 percent vote by all eligible voters in favor of the agreement.
“The workers organized because they wanted a legal, binding agreement that would set up a bidding process, include rights for safety and grievance committees, and provide other protections,” said International District 17 Vice President Brian Lacy. “We were hell-bent on fighting until we got that.”
Safety issues for surface mine workers include stable footing and roads for the large machinery, the proximity of the dragline and dumping areas for other workers, operating conditions of trucks and other machinery to lower long-term back and muscle issues from driving or operating large machines on rough terrain.
“At Glancy Surface Mine we sought UMWA representation to improve our working conditions,” said James “Curly” McDonald. “We didn’t have anyone to represent us.” James McDonald, Randy Moore, and Chris Malcolm are new members of Local Union 1503. James and Randy played a pivotal role on the bargaining team and both James and Chris were on the MSCC for Glancy.
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, Fayette County, Pennsylvania and the United Mine Workers of America celebrated a long-awaited victory. UMWA staff, International Executive Board members, International Executive Board Emeritus members, local union officers and policy makers attended the ceremony at the site of where the new Fayette County Prison would be erected. The current Fayette County Prison facility is over 130 years old and stands in the heart of Downtown Uniontown in southeast Pennsylvania. In July of 2013, International Safety Director of Field Operations Ron Bowersox conducted a safety inspection of the facility and deemed it, as all that visit Fayette County Prison do, ‘an abomination to health standards and an utter slap in the face to prison inmates and corrections officers.’
“Every single person that visits Fayette County Prison says it’s the worst prison they’ve seen in at least 20 years,” said Chris Bennett, International District 2 Representative. “We have waited years and years with no movement but are now breaking ground and finally moving forward for our members.”
Local Union 9113 Acting President Kevin Locke and Recording Secretary and Grievance Committee member Shannon Matty were ecstatic at the plan being finalized to relocate Uniontown’s crumbling prison. “We’ve been waiting 17 years for a new start with this facility,” said Matty. “Being located downtown and having inadequate space, we would have to transfer inmates down the street for the public to see”, said Locke. “If inmates were sick, we didn’t have the ability to keep them isolated and illnesses would spread like wildfire.”
Seven years ago, in November, 2014, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections issued a report stating the facility “does not meet minimum operating standards.” Since then, the UMWA has worked tirelessly to make the relocation and construction of a new Fayette County Prison a reality. The sanitary conditions at the current prison present a danger to UMWA correction officers and inmates. “In 2015, I took a personal tour of the facility, if that’s what you want to call it,” said President Cecil Roberts.
Working Conditions are Our Top Priority
Since this fight started, UMWA District 2 and Region 1 Officers and Staff have attended several local meetings, commissioner meetings, the UMWA has held and attended rallies, the UMW Journal has written several articles describing in great detail the deplorable conditions of the prison. The union has filed com-plaints and sent several letters to the Prison Board and Board of Commissioners.
At the December 19, 2019, Fayette County Commissioners meeting the Commissioners passed a 2020 budget that included funding for the prison rebuilding project. The estimated cost of the new prison is $40 million and was anticipated to take four years to build. “This ceremony marks a transition point for the prison workers and citizens of Fayette County,” said International District 2 Vice President Chuck Knisell. “The modernizing, updating and re-entry program of this prison is not only a service to the community for years to come, it’s a great day for workers.”
“This is the largest rebuilding program in the history of Fayette County,” said Region I Director Mike Payton. “The workers deserve this facility, and I want to thank everyone from the District, Region, and Local Union for working so hard to get this done.”
Meetings have been held every two weeks virtually during CO-VID-19 in preparation for the prison building project. By spring, 2023, the new Fayette County Prison is anticipated to be completed. President Roberts and Secretary-Treasurer Allen would like to thank everyone that helped turn this longstanding fight for workers into a success, including UMWA retirees, the members and officers of Local Union 9113 and UMWA staff at the District and Regional levels.
At the end of 2011, there were nearly 92,000 people working in the American coal industry, the most since 1997. Coal production in the United State topped a billion tons for the 21st consecutive year. Both thermal and metallurgical coal were selling at premium prices and companies were making large profits.
Then the bottom fell out. Over the next 4 years, coal prices cratered, especially in metallurgical coal but also in thermal coal. The global economy slowed, putting pressure on steelmaking and metallurgical coal production. Foreign competition from China, Australia, India and elsewhere cut into met coal production.
Domestically, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of shale formations opened up previously untapped natural gas fields, caused the price of gas to drop below that of coal for the first time in years. Utilities began switching the fuel they used to generate electricity from coal to gas. Environmental regulations coming from the Obama administration also impacted coal employment. By 2016, just 51,800 people were working in the coal industry. 41,000 jobs had been lost.
Companies went bankrupt. Retirees’ hard-won retiree health care and pensions were threatened. Active miners saw their contracts, including provisions that had been negotiated over decades, thrown out by federal bankruptcy courts. From 2012 to today, more than 60 coal companies have filed for either Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy or Chapter 7 liquidation. Almost no company has been immune.
“Just since 2015 we have had companies like Peabody, Arch, Alpha Natural Resources, Walter Energy, Westmoreland and Murray Energy all go bankrupt,” President Roberts said. “Patriot Coal went bankrupt twice. Retirees’ health care was on the brink, but we were successful in preserving that in 2017. The 1974 Pension Fund was on the path to insolvency, but we were able to save that in 2019.
“Even though our contracts were thrown out by bankruptcy judges at company after company, we were successful in preserving union recognition, our members’ jobs and reasonable levels of pay and benefits at every company as they emerged from bankruptcy,” Roberts said. “But in no case has the contract that came out of bankruptcy been the same as the one our members enjoyed when a company went into bankruptcy. This has been extremely painful all the way around.”
Coal employment falling again
The pain hasn’t let up. Coal employment stayed relatively flat from 2016-2019, but coal-fired power plants were still closing at an accelerating pace. Although President Trump took office promising a strong rebound in coal production and employment, it never occurred. Employment in thermal coal slipped, while metallurgical jobs briefly ticked up but dropped again.
Then came the Coronavirus. The global economy came nearly to a halt. Tens of millions lost their jobs nearly overnight, including thou-sands of workers in the coal industry. Electric power demand dropped significantly, causing production cuts at thermal coal mines. Worldwide steel production slowed, causing a drop in metallurgical coal prices. Miners were laid off or worked short weeks for months. Some mines closed entirely and are still shut down today.
The virus itself rippled through America’s mines, causing sickness and death. Nearly 833 positive tests for COVID-19 infection have been recorded in mines where the UMWA represents the workers, and at least two of our active members have died from the disease. Dozens of retirees and their spouses, many who were he parents or grandparents of active miners, have died prematurely from the virus.
By December, 2020, U.S. coal employment had fallen to 44,100 jobs, 7,000 fewer than in January of that year. Of those 44,100, roughly 34,000 are hourly workers; the rest are foremen, office workers, sales-people, mining engineers and other management.
Rank-and-file coal miners have become scarce. There are fewer hourly coal miners working in the country today than at any time since the federal government began keeping statistics. The rise of renewable energy – windmills, solar panels, geothermal energy – is transforming the energy marketplace and the jobs that go with it. And impending action in Washington has the potential to dramatically slash coal employment further, and soon.
Change is upon us
“We have to be realistic,” President Roberts said. “Whether people agree that it needs to happen or not, an energy transition is going on in the United States. We need to be upfront about that. A lot of it is driven by politics and what is happening in Washington. But a lot of it is being driven by the utility companies and the energy marketplace.”
Coal is becoming more expensive to use to make electricity than other forms of energy generation. Utilities are closing coal-fired power plants at an accelerating pace, and there is currently not a single coal-fired power plant, either under construction or planned, in the United States. The utility companies do not believe they can earn a profit from coal-fired power any longer.
“As the only organization that stands up for coal miners, their families and their communities, the UMWA must engage in the fight to maintain UMWA jobs, create new jobs for UMWA members and preserve UMWA families and com-munities going forward,” Roberts said. “We have developed an initiative to do just that, and along with our labor and political allies we are going to fight for it every day until we prevail.
Where are the jobs?
The people of Appalachia have been promised an economic renewal for generations, by politicians from both political parties. Nothing has ever happened. Now the employment crisis in America’s coalfields is upon us. Close to 200,000 jobs have already been lost in the last decade, when direct coal jobs and the jobs that depend on the coal industry are counted. Appalachia needed an economic transformation a long time ago.
“We have a president of the United States who campaigned on transforming America’s energy sector away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy,” President Roberts said. “He also campaigned on creating family-sustaining union jobs for coal miners and other energy workers to transition into if they lose their traditional energy jobs. Frankly, if there are not good union jobs with equivalent wages and benefits avail-able for miners to move into on the day their mine shuts down, then this will be just one more empty promise from a politician.”
The scale of solving this issue is huge, but so far, any legislative proposals that have been put forward do not come close to providing the resources that will actually be needed. Some, like the Green New Deal, have no funding attached to them at all. They use phrases like “just transition” but offer no specifics of what that might be or how it could be achieved.
“I am tired of hearing people talk about a so-called ‘just transition’ in America’s coalfields,” President Roberts said. “There never has been any such thing in the history of our nation. UMWA members know that, their families know that, and the people in their communities know that. Let’s stop talking about this in meaningless terms. Let’s start talking about what reality looks like and what can actually be achieved.”
Congressional action on the horizon
“We anticipate that Congress will take action this year that could have a significant impact on the future of coal production for the generation of electricity,” President Roberts said. “Some are promoting a carbon tax, which would place a tax on carbon emissions from utilities and would lead to just about every coal-fired power plant to shut down within a very short period of time. This is a bad idea that will end up costing hundreds of thousands – if not more than a million – workers their jobs. We strongly oppose any and all legislative efforts to enact a carbon tax.”
Another mechanism some in Washington support is called a “Clean Energy Standard,” which would set even smaller limits on how much carbon could be emitted into the atmosphere from the utility sec-tor, reaching zero by 2035.
“2035 simply does not pro-vide enough time to deploy carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology on a commercial scale for coal-fired power plants,” Roberts said. “There is no magic about the 2035 date; it is not supported by science. We believe that date should be pushed further so that CCS technology can be established, the infrastructure built out to support it, and the cost to utilities driven down so that they will have incentives to install it.”
Congress has already taken action to support more rapid development of CCS with the passage of energy legislation at the end of 2020 sponsored by Senators Joe Man-chin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). That legislation requires the Department of Energy to establish six CCS demonstration plants, two of which must be coal-fired utility generation units.
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, WV, which is staffed by members of UMWA Local Union 1717, is developing the next generation of CCS technology and exploring how best to store the captured carbon under-ground for centuries. The technology developed at NETL must be quickly scaled-up to enable it to be attached to commercial utility units. That will require significantly more funding for research and development than the government currently provides.
“Coalfield communities and our members cannot wait any longer for action,” President Roberts said. “For far too long, people who have absolutely no connection to coal miners and our families, no connection to where we live, no connection to our working-class roots have been making decisions that are harming us and our way of life. That has to stop, and our voices must be heard.
“We recognize that change is coming,” Roberts said. “Our task now is to mold that change so that it leaves our members, their families, their communities and our union whole. It is without question the biggest challenge we have faced since mechanization first came to the mines in the 1950s. But UMWA members have always demonstrated that we are up to meeting any challenge as long as we stay united. This will be no different.”
“I’m extremely worried about my job being threatened by these changes in the energy market,” said Local Union 9909 member Gary Campbell. “I would love for coal to last forever, but that is just not going to happen. I’m glad the UMWA is taking action to provide opportunities for everyone down the road.”
“No other jobs where I live in West Virginia offer remotely the same pay or benefits as mining coal,” said Local Union 1501 member Ryan Cottrel. “Mining coal is dangerous, but I’ve grown to love my job. I’d be very sad if the day comes where we can’t work anymore and support our families like we have for years. Working to preserve what we have now is what’s important. That’s what started the labor movement. Keeping the union strong and alive is about securing the jobs we have now and finding real solutions to transitioning to new ones.”
Local Union 1440 and District 17 Member Charles “Hawkeye” Dixon began his mining career in March of 1971 at the Island Creek No. 14 Mine in Nicholas County, West Virginia and continued working there until April of 1976. “I worked in lowcoal, about 36 inches,” said Dixon. “It was grueling work, but I knew I had the union to support me each and every day I went underground. I always felt safe because I knew the union had my back.” After leaving Island Creek, Brother Dixon spent one year at the ABC Coal Company and from April of 1978 until October 1, 1984, he was employed with the Pike County Coal Company in eastern Kentucky until he was terminated during the selective strike in October of 1984.
After being terminated during the selective strike, Brother Dixon became an International Representative for the former District 30 in June of 1985. Hawkeye was elected to the International Executive Board from 1985 to 2004. After 33 years of service to the UMWA, Brother Dixon retired on December 31, 2004. “Hawkeye’s dedication to the union didn’t stop when he retired,” said President Roberts. “He has been a devoted and loyal member of our union for more than four decades now. Anything this union has ever asked of him, he has wholeheartedly given it his all. His tireless hard work, devotion and love for this union is unwavering. The Union is blessed to have someone who has dedicated their entire working life for the benefit of others.”
Upon Brother Dixon’s retirement, he attended rallies all across the country, including St. Louis, Missouri, Charleston, WV and Washington, DC. He has walked the halls of Congress over the past five years fighting for retiree healthcare and pensions they earned over a lifetime of backbreaking work in the Nation’s coal mines. As of December, 2019, our retirees can now live out the rest of their lives knowing that those benefits are secure. “At every turn, Brother Dixon has been there to show his undeniable support to help every member of this union,” said Secretary-Treasurer Allen. “Whether he was called upon to be a bus caption traveling to a rally or serving as a local union president or speaking with members of Congress, he has been there every step of the way to support every brother and sister of this union.”
“No one can ever question Brother Dixon’s dedication to the United Mine Workers, that’s for sure,” said International District 17 Vice President Brian Lacy. “He was very active in COMPAC this past election year, and he has truly devoted his entire life to the labor movement and works day in and day out to represent his fellow brothers and sisters. He has always supported the union and its members.”
Brother Dixon has been the Financial Secretary for Local Union 1440 since 2009. “We have a beautiful Local Union Hall in Matewan, West Virginia,” said Brother Dixon. “We have anywhere from 50 to 60 attendees at each of our local union meetings. I enjoy helping the membership and doing anything I can to assist them. I love doing it, and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As well as his involvement with COMPAC, he also serves on the Organizing and Pensioner Leadership Committees. “Hawkeye has been there every step of the way in every struggle we have faced,” said President Roberts. “When you have someone working just as hard as the day he started working in the mines, that’s loyalty, and I’m very proud of everything my friend and brother has done for the United Mine Workers of America.”
Residents of Mt. Pleasant in Sanpete County, Utah feel very fortunate to have an organization like the Sanpete Pantry, which serves 275 families in the county through its weekly meal distribution program. The Sanpete Pantry is the only food bank in the entire county, and they offer much more than just meals. Executive Director, Jeff Jarman, is a retired member of UMWA Local 1769 where he served nearly three elected terms as an officer.
The Sanpete Pantry provides weekly food distribution from their main facility in Mt. Pleasant every Wednesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition to a local distribution location, the pantry makes mobile food drops at Ephraim and Gunnison on a regular basis to the people of the community who are not able to travel to them to receive meals. The Pantry is in the planning process of reaching out to other areas of the county as well.
KidsPack Weekend Meal Distribution
Not only does the Sanpete Pantry offer meals on a weekly basis to the citizens of Sanpete County, they offer a KidsPack Weekend Program. The program works with local volunteers that help prepare packed meals for children to take home to serve as sustenance over the weekend until they are able to attend school and receive their two meals a day. “There are disadvantaged children that go hungry every day, but we don’t hear about them,” says Jarman. “Public schools offer subsidized breakfast and lunch programs during school hours, but what happens to those same children on the weekends? The KidsPack program strives to bridge that gap.”
Hunger has a direct impact on a child’s ability to learn, as well as their overall health later on in life. The Sanpete Pantry delivers meal packs for distribution to these children every week in an effort to help nourish their minds and bodies in preparation for learning and growing.
The Sanpete Pantry relies heavily on its community partners through donations. Since COVID-19, operating funds have increased while donations have severely dwindled. During peak employment at Deer Creek Mine, roughly 40 percent of nearly 600 employees were residing in Sanpete County. Many families and extended family members of former employees experienced layoffs, unemployment and COVID-19 related illnesses.
Donations are what keeps the people of Sanpete County fed. If you’d like to make a donation, you can do so by sending a check or stopping by the main facility at:
Sanpete Pantry 1080 Blackhawk Blvd. Mt Pleasant, UT 84647 435-462-3006
The UMWA has announced the winners of the 2020- 2021 Lorin E. Kerr Scholarship. Each of the winners will receive $2,500 this academic year to assist them in meeting their educational goals.
Hannah Johnson
“The work ethic my grandfather developed throughout his life and his many years of labor in the coal mines was instilled in each of us. I hope to use the work ethic he taught me to continue my education.” -Hannah Johnson
Hannah Johnson is the granddaughter of Local Union 1569 member David Nease. “My grandfather mined coal for many years,” said Hannah. “He worked extremely hard to provide for our family. The work ethic he developed throughout his life and his many years of labor in the coal mines was instilled in each of us. I hope to use the work ethic he taught me to continue my education.”
Hannah hails from the small town of Cumberland, Kentucky in Harlan County and strongly supports the Labor Movement. “The Labor Movement has fought for better pay, health care, retirement benefits, safer working conditions and education,” said Hannah. “Unions help employees understand and exercise their rights on the job. They give workers a voice on the job.”
Hannah will be attending Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passas, Kentucky, in the fall. She intends to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Kinesiology. “After obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree, I intend to further my education by pursuing a Master’s degree in physical therapy at the University of Kentucky,” said Hannah. “I hope to eventually return to Harlan County, Kentucky, as a physical therapist, so that I can give back to my community.”
Shade Rader
“I plan on doing more than becoming a veterinarian. I want to help drive economic growth back home, so that there is less despair and poverty.” -Shade Rader
Shade Rader is the grandson of Local Union 1335 member Dudley O’Dell. He plans to attend West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, to begin his studies to become a veterinarian. Once he has completed his courses at West Virginia University, he plans to apply to the veterinarian program at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. One of Shade’s goals is to create a veterinary school in the state of West Virginia.
“I plan on doing more than becoming a veterinarian,” said Shade. “Like many places across the Country, my hometown of Nettie, West Virginia has been through some hard-economic times. I want to help drive economic growth back home, so that there is less despair and poverty. I’ve had this dream for quite a while and hope that with the support from this scholarship that I can make this dream a reality and help the people in my community.”
The Members of UMWA Local Union 0911 are employed by Gallia County Emergency Services in Gallipolis, Ohio. Gallia County is located in southwestern Ohio along the banks of the Ohio River. Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Station 9 is located just off of State Route 160 almost due north of Gallipolis. The women and men who staff the station and care for the residents of the area have been Members of UMWA District 17 since May 21, 1996.
“It takes a very special individual to do the stressful and many times heartbreaking work that Emergency Medical professionals must perform on a daily basis”, stated President Roberts. “The Members of Local Union 0911 understand the pressures of the job better than anyone else. They must deal with life and death decisions every time they respond to a call for assistance. Each time they rise to the occasion and do their very best. They are consummate professionals and we are fortunate to have them as Members of the UMWA.” The EMS, most commonly referred to as ambulance or paramedic services, treat injuries or illnesses from the minor mishaps to life threatening episodes. No matter the circumstance, each event requires an urgent medical response to provide out-of-hospital treatment and in most cases transportation of patients to a medical center for definitive care. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) of Local Union 0911 work tirelessly, around the clock, covering 455 squares miles of Gallia County, Ohio, to ensure every member of the community is provided the emergency medical care they may require, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Becoming an EMT requires months of classroom instruction, then additional on-the-job training. The time spent preparing to become an EMT is demanding and, at times, extremely stressful. However, it is necessary to ensure these professionals are fully prepared for the multiple emergency situations they must respond to while on duty. “Every member working for Gallia Emergency Medical Services should be so proud of the life-saving services they provide each and every day to the citizens of their communities,” said President Roberts. “They are continually updating their skills and expanding their knowledge to ensure every individual they come in contact with receives the best possible emergency care. The citizens of Gallia County are truly blessed to have these UMWA Members looking after their health and well-being.”
EMTs are highly trained professionals that must respond quickly to emergency situations, accident scenes or persons suffering traumatic injuries. Local Union 0911 President Chris Barnes has been a Gallia County EMT for 21 years. “We receive 4,400 to 4,500 emergency calls per year,” said Barnes. “We cover such a large area that we have to use several of the local hospitals, including Pleasant Valley, St. Mary’s, Cabell and Holzer Hospital. All of our EMTs have a great, professional relationship with each of the hospitals in the area, and working together we are able to provide the best care to the citizens of our communities.”
The Union Means Everything
Brother Barnes’ family has a long history with the Union. His grandfather was a member of the United Mine Workers and suffered from Black Lung disease. “When my grandfather got Black Lung, he moved to Ohio to seek specialized treatment. He passed away when I was five years old, and the Union took care of my grandmother for the rest of her life,” said Barnes. “If it wasn’t for the United Mine Workers, my mom’s family wouldn’t have been able to survive after he passed. They wouldn’t have had anything. His Union membership meant everything to the family.”
Local Union 0911 Member Ashley Brumfield has been working as an EMT with Gallia County for over 13 years. “We are not only responsible for responding to emergency calls. As EMTs, we respond to every emergency situation in our area, and if necessary, we transport patients to the hospital. However, we do not transport patients back to their residence after they have received treatment. Our job is to take care of any situation that requires immediate medical attention.” said Brumfield. “When we aren’t responding to emergency calls, we handle cleaning of our ambulances, handling of supplies and medications, such as narcotics and preparing for the next call. We have five ambulances that we are responsible for in our area of response. We have a lot of responsibilities, and it can be quite stressful at times, but we know that the Union has our back, and that really helps during those difficult times.”
Local Union 0911 Financial Secretary Malynda Small has been a member for eight years. “I’ve been Financial Secretary since 2017,” said Small. “We have full-time and part-time EMTs here, and we all work very well together. All of the EMTs in the County are Members of the Union and we look out for one another.”
“We have a great group of EMTs working in Gallia County,” said International District 17 Vice President Gary Trout. “These are very difficult jobs. EMTs see the worst in human tragedy and offer comfort and assistance in some of the most horrific circumstances. They do an outstanding job serving the residents of their community, and we are extremely proud they are a part of the UMWA Membership.”
Working Together to Save Lives
The 50 members of Local Union 0911 work a rotating shift of 24-hours on call at the station and then 48 hours off. The shift rotation ensures the County EMS are manned by qualified professionals 365 days a year. Calls to the Station can range anywhere from someone having a heart attack, a person experiencing symptoms of a stroke or the result of individuals being involved in a car accident. It is the unknown factors of each incident that make every emergency response unique. The members of Local Union 0911 are trained, skilled and always ready to respond to a call no matter what the situation may entail.
“Any time you have individuals who are working under very stressful conditions and they are still able to calmly and professionally perform their duties, it clearly demonstrates the dedication and commitment they have for their fellow human beings,” said Secretary-Treasurer Allen. “We are so fortunate to have these talented, dedicated and caring individuals as a part of our diverse membership. Every member of their community should be thankful they have these wonderful folks to provide the care and transportation they may need on a moment’s notice.”
Honored by the Members of the Community
The former Director of Gallia County Emergency Medical Services, Larry Boyer, who held the position for 15 years before retiring last year, praised the professionalism and outstanding services provided by the EMTs of Gallia. In 2018, Boyer recommended Local Union 0911 member Brandon Lasseter be named paramedic of the year for his outstanding professionalism and going above and beyond the call of duty while on the job. “We have some of the best EMTs I have ever worked with,” said Lasseter. “It’s an honor to be recognized as paramedic of the year.” Brother Lasseter has been on the team at Gallia EMS for over ten years.
The Gallia County Commissioners sought to honor those who give of themselves every day in recognition of National Emergency Medical Services Week. An official proclamation marked the week of May 20th through 26th as EMS week in Gallia County. The commissioners stated that the efforts of the professionals working at the County emergency medical services have been key in improving the lives of the citizens of Gallia County. The survival and recovery rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury has significantly improved each year because of their dedication.
Since coal began being produced on an industrial scale in the United States, miners and their families have suffered greatly at the hands of mine operators. The working conditions and company towns were oppressive and dangerous. From the early years of mining through the 1950’s , thousand of miners died annually in the nation’s coal mines. Fatal accident reporting shows that 104,878 miners have dies in coal mining accidents since 1900. In fact, it wasn’t until 1983 that the industry recorded fewer than one-hundred deaths across the industry in a single year. There is, however, much more to the story. For as tragic as these numbers are, they really tell you less than half of the story.
Depending on the data being examines, researchers estimate that over 200,000 miners have died from Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP) or complications from the disease. The actual number can ultimately depend on how the cause of death is documented on the death certificate. Recording the specific cause of death can have significant impact on the overall number of deaths reported as the result of CWP. For instance, if an attending physician lists the cause of death as CWP or cites a different cause, such as a heart attack, but lists CWP as the contributing factor, the death will be recorded as a Black Lung death. However, if a miner has been diagnosed with CWP but succumbs to a heart attack and the physician does not list Black Lung as a contributing factor, it will not be recorded in the Black Lung statistics. To some observers, this may not seem like a large number. However, independent reporting on the actions at Johns Hopkins University Hospital by Dr. Paul Wheeler shows just how significant accurate reporting on CWP can be.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) the occurrence of the disease declined from 30 percent among coal miners after the passage of the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 to about three percent by 1999. New studies released by NIOSH show that since 2000, the prevalence of Black Lung disease has increased nationwide to affect one in every 10 miners. In the coalfields of northern Appalachia that number has increased to at least 20 percent of miners. What is most alarming, is the severity of the disease. NIOSH has found that the prevalence of Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF), the most severe form of Black Lung has reached unprecedented levels in this area of the country. The study noted that, “The current prevalence of severe black lung in this part of the country is as high as it’s been since record keeping began in the early 1970’s.”
President Roberts Faults Government and Industry in Congressional Testimony
On June 20, 2019, President Roberts offered a candid and sobering assessment of the threat miners face with regard to Black Lung disease to the United States House of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Workplace Protections. In his testimony to the Subcommittee President Roberts stated, “If you hear me say something that I raised in May of 2003, the first time I testified before a Congressional Committee on this issue, consider it an indictment of this government’s failure to take seriously the known threat of Black Lung disease. Since that time, over 18,000 miners have died in this country from Black Lung. If Congress again fails to act, that number is expected to skyrocket in the coming decades. The Union has stated repeatedly that operator control of the Dust Sampling Program and MSHA’s (MSHA or Agency) inability and lack of will to enforce the law has caused this crisis. This epidemic is further propagated by medical and legal professionals that profit from the misery of miners unfortunate enough to contract this horrible disease. The fact is, CWP is a preventable occupational disease that could have been eradicated years ago, but for the greed of the industry and the failings of those who are charged to protect the nation’s miners. Until Congress passes legislation that requires MSHA to promulgate specific standards that protect miners and corrects the shortcomings of the current dust standards, nothing is going to change. Miners need this problem fixed now. They should not have to wait another day for Congress to act.”
Industry and MSHA Beg for More Time
Despite all that is known about the cause of the disease and injury it has inflicted on miners and their families, representatives from MSHA and the industry pleaded that it was too soon for Congress to act. They actually had the audacity to tell Members of the Subcommittee that they would need a decade or possibly two in order to evaluate the current effects of respirable coal dust on miners’ health. They pleaded for more time, more studies, more data and quite frankly more of the same inaction, deception and fraud that has plagued the sampling program since its inception. The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Health and Safety actually spent the bulk of his testimony trying to avoid addressing the matter. Instead, he discussed merging the coal and metal/non metal inspectorate together to reduce travel expenses and the fact that the Agency had completed its Congressionally mandated inspections for the previous year. Neither the industry or MSHA brought anything new to the discussions. Instead, they deflected blame and attempted to confuse the issue.
In closing his testimony to the Subcommittee President Roberts stated that, “The request for additional time is unacceptable. The Black Lung crisis exists in the coalfields today, it is killing miners today, we have the information necessary to deal with this problem now. There is no justifiable reason for Congress and the Agency to delay in taking immediate steps to finally eradicate this disease.”
President Roberts then listed five initiatives that Congress should force the Agency to immediately implement to deal with the Crisis. They included requiring MSHA to conduct all respirable dust compliance sampling and ending operator participation in the program, reducing the current Permissible Exposure Limit and create a separate enforceable standard for silica, expanding miners’ rights under 103(f) of the Mine Act, increase miner representation at nonunion operations and restoring the Black Lung Trust’s funding stream.
President Roberts’ testimony specifically outlined what Congress and MSHA must immediately do to begin the process of more effectively protecting miners from the known hazards of the industry.
1.Congress must take necessary action to require the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration assume the responsibility for conducting all respirable dust sampling used to ensure mine operators are in compliance with all aspects of the Respirable Dust Sampling Program. The standard must require that a Representative of the Secretary be present for all such sampling for the entire duration of the sampling process.
This can be accomplished either through immediate Congressional legislative action or by Congress directing MSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard meeting this requirement.
In an effort to pay for any additional financial burden this new sampling program would impose on MSHA, Congress must require the Agency to issue an emergency temporary standard that permits it to charge a fee for service or any other reasonable method to recover the cost associated with the program.
Congress must direct MSHA to move immediately after the issuance of these emergency standards to codify them into regulation by promulgating a permanent standard that accomplishes these goals.
2. Congress must take necessary action to require the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration promulgate an emergency temporary standard that creates a separate Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for silica. The Standard must set the PEL at the current level recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
This can be accomplished either through immediate Congressional legislative action or by Congress directing MSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard meeting this requirement.
The emergency standard must require that the PEL for silica be separate and distinct from the Respirable Dust Standard and enforceable in accordance with all other standards established by the Agency.
MSHA must implement a sampling program for silica similar to the current Respirable Dust Sampling Program. MSHA must be responsible for conducting all respirable dust sampling used to ensure mine operators are in compliance with all aspects of the silica standard.
In an effort to pay for any additional financial burden this new sampling program would impose on MSHA, Congress must require the Agency to issue an emergency temporary standard that permits it to charge a fee for service or any other reasonable method to recover the cost associated with the program.
Congress must direct MSHA to move immediately after the issuance of these emergency standards to codify them into regulation by promulgating a permanent standard that accomplishes these goals.
3. Congress must take necessary action to require the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration promulgate an emergency temporary standard that expands the 103(f) “walk around” rights afforded miners. The standard must permit the Representative of the Miners the right to participate in all activity conducted by a Representative of the Secretary while on mine property or in any activity that directly impacts the health and safety of miners at the operation.
This can be accomplished either through immediate Congressional legislative action or by Congress directing MSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard meeting this requirement.
This emergency temporary standard must require the mine operator to compensate all Representatives of the Miners who participate in such activity at their regular pay, including applicable overtime, for all such work performed.
Congress must direct MSHA to move immediately after the issuance of these emergency standards to codify them into regulation by promulgating a permanent standard that accomplishes these goals.
4. Congress must take necessary action to require the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to address the problem of miner representation and participation at mines not represented by a recognized labor organization and target such mines for compliance with all aspects of the Mine Act and all rules promulgated by the Agency to advance the safety and health of the miners. MSHA targeting should be active in nature, and include accident reporting, compliance history and patterns of noncompliance with all health and safety laws. Given the seriousness of the problem known to exist at these operations, MSHA should immediately start auditing and appropriately targeting these types of operations.
This can be accomplished either through immediate Congressional legislative action or by Congress directing MSHA to issue an emergency temporary standard meeting this requirement.
Congress must direct MSHA to move immediately after the issuance of these emergency standards to codify them into regulation by promulgating a permanent standard that accomplishes these goals.
5. Congress must take immediate action to restore and increase the funding stream necessary to pay for benefits owed to coal miners from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. This must include coal that is produced for domestic use as well as coal produced for the export market. The increase must be sufficient to pay all disability and medical benefits, as well as retire the debt currently incurred by the Trust Fund. Payment of the debt must be completed in a reasonable and cost-effective time frame, not to exceed 30 years from the date of the legislation.
6. This legislation must contain language that does not permit companies who do not have the financial ability to pay for required benefits or refuse to pay required benefits to remain in business. In the event current mine operators are in arrears in payments to any beneficiary for required benefits, for any reason, the legislation must contain language that permits the Trust Fund to recover any assets it has expended to pay these benefits, either by garnishing the revenue of the mine operator or if necessary attaching the mine’s assets and selling those assets to cover the debt.
Pictured (l-r) in the Information Center at Aleris are Local Union 4994 Financial Secretary Michael Mulvaney, Recording Secretary Scott Vanfossen, District 31 Representative Tommy McGary, Local Union President Ray Vesco, Aleris Manager Woody Hannold, International District 31 Vice President Rick Altman, Grievance Committee Chairman Derick Hutchison and Aleris Manager Tom McMath.
“ It’s all about getting young blood in here. You can’t expect a Local Union to successfully represent and defend its members if you don’t train the up and coming leaders. One day, myself and the other officers won’t be here and it will be up to the younger generation of Brothers and Sisters to stand up for one another. I take pride in teaching and training new Local Union 4994 members.”
– Local Union 4994 President Ray Vesco
The Urichsville, Ohio rolling mill, historically known as “The Newport Rolling Mill” (Newport) was founded in 1964, by IMCO Recycling, Inc. (IMCO) to expand its aluminum recycling capacity. In 2004, IMCO merged with Commonwealth Industries, Inc. to become Aleris Rolled Products, Inc. (Aleris).
Newport receives five million pounds of scrap aluminum every day, often in the form of road signs, gutters, siding and various other materials. The plant recycles the material to produce high quantity aluminum, which they then turn into flat rolled aluminum sheets. “We have half as many rotary furnaces as we did in 1997, but we produce almost twice as much as we did then,” stated Local Union 4994 President Ray Vesco, “This is an extremely high performing facility, every machine serves a specific purpose and the operators are the very best.”
Local Union 4994 President Ray Vesco has worked at Newport for 24 years. He served as Chairman of the Grievance Committee for over 20 years and is currently in his 4th term as Local Union President. “Ray was instrumental in organizing Local Union 4994,” stated International District 31 Vice President Rick Altman. “He has always been dedicated to the Union and works tirelessly to educate the new Members and get them involved in the Union”. UMWA Local Union 4994 was chartered on April 19, 1994 and proudly represents Aleris employees. Its members perform many duties within the facility and are extremely well skilled in the operation of all the machinery in the plant.
Planning for a Safe Future
One of the most impressive attributes of Aleris is its Information Center (I.C. Center), which is a room dedicated to the reviewing and planning of Aleris’ safety records and production numbers. “The operators meet every day, often multiple times a day, in the I.C. Center to go over safety issues and review the goals for that work day,” explained Local Union 4994 Recording Secretary Scott Vanfossen. “The equipment we use here is extremely dangerous. There is always the potential risk of accidental injury. I think I can speak for the members when I say we’re grateful that safety is a priority here.” Scott works closely with both Local Union 4994 officers and Aleris’ management team to ensure all employees are safe and protected every time they come to work. “One thing that makes Newport stand out within the Company is our safety record,” said Scott. “It has been almost two years without a lost time accident, and that is something we are very proud of.”
It’s All About Teamwork
“The fact that it’s been almost two years without a lost time accident speaks volumes about the successful efforts of Local Union 4994,” said Vice President Altman. “I truly can’t express how proud I am of the Members of UMWA Local Union 4994.” Derick Hutchison is currently the Chairman of the Grievance Committee. “I’ve been a member for almost a decade, and I can honestly say we all work together here. We all work together as one team on the job and our main goal is safety. I’m proud to be a member of UMWA Local Union 4994 and to have a President like Ray.” When asked about the longevity of his members’ employment at Aleris, Ray responded, “Over 50 percent of our employees have worked at Aleris for 25 years. Our members want to work here because they know they will return safely to their families at the end of their shift and they know they have a Union that looks out for them.”
Many employees at Aleris are family members and close friends referred by UMWA members. “The fact that over half of Aleris’ employees have been here for 25 years is no surprise to anyone,” said Vice President Altman. “The relationship that Local Union 4994 has built with its members is truly wonderful. There are no major divisions between Aleris and the Union.” Longstanding member and Local Union 4994 Financial Secretary Michael Mulvaney said, “Just like Ray and Derick said, we work together as a team here. Our goal is to create a working environment where the Members feel like they have a voice, and most importantly, feel safe. That is what we have here at Aleris.”
“ The Members of Local Union 4994 have the technical ability and work ethic that has driven the company to become highly successful. Many times, people see members of a Local Union and don’t truly have any idea what they do. I can guarantee we all come into contact with the products the Members of Local Union 4994 have created. Our lives would be much less convenient if it weren’t for the dedication and hard work of Local Union 4994 Members and their commitment to keeping the Union strong.”
There is something to be said about Local Union 1200’s efforts to make their work environment safer every year. That shows the commitment they have to safety in general, but more importantly it demonstrates how they look out for one another. These Members produce a product many of us didn’t even realize we use. I would guess that this is the first time many of our members even realized they used bentonite. We are very proud of the Members of Local 1200, and we should recognize them for their commitment to always looking for ways to improve safety standards.
— Cecil E. Roberts
Members of United Mine Workers of America Local Union 1200 work in Letohatchee, Alabama, just outside of Montgomery. The Members operate the open pit clay mine, the Sandy Ridge processing plant and the Letohatchee packaging plant, owned by the American Colloid Company. Sandy Ridge and Letohatchee are a Bentonite clay mining operation that produces a proprietary mixture of bentonite and yellow clay. Members refer to the surface mine as “the pit” where there are deep visible layers of yellow and bentonite clay. “The pit contains remnants of volcanic ash traced back 60 million years,” said Local Union 1200 President Michael Boone. The mixture is transported from the surface mine to Sandy Ridge where it is processed and prepared for transportation by truck or for packaging and distribution out of the Letohatchee bagging plant.
Sandy Ridge
Bentonite clay has many commercial uses. It is utilized in the foundry industry for molds and casts. Other uses include building material, waterproofing, cat litter, drilling muds, animal feeds and wine and juice clarification. “By the end of this year, we will have processed 100,000 tons of clay,” said Local Union 1200 member Eddie White. “Once the clay mixture has been mined from the pit, it’s taken to Sandy Ridge to be processed. This process consists of crushing, grinding and screening the bentonite mixture.” When the final mixture is completed, the bentonite is transported by bulk truck to the local customers or sent to the Letohatchee packaging plant where it is portioned, packaged and shipped all over the world.
Letohatchee
“We handle packages from as small as 50 pounds up to 2,500-pounds,” said Local Union 1200 member Clayton McMeans. Clayton has driven one of the two Letohatchee packaging plant trucks for 22 years. “I joined the Union in 2010 because I know how important it is to have someone who’s got your back. We rely heavily on each other every day to operate machinery and complete physically taxing jobs. The Union gives us a leg to stand on when it comes to ensuring we are safe on the shop floor.”
Making Safety a Priority
Recently, Sandy Ridge and Letohatchee implemented several new safety features at the plants to ensure every employee is working in a safe and secure environment. “We have implemented safety gates and walkways at both plants and completely renovated the main breakroom,” said Local Union President Michael Boone. “Michael became Local Union President in 2017. Prior to that, he served as Local Union Vice President.” said International District 20 Vice President Larry Spencer. “A few years ago, Michael really stepped up and took charge of the Local. He is truly a leader at Local 1200 and within District 20.” “A lot of changes have been made this past year that make us feel safer on the job thanks to the Union.,” said Local Union 1200 member Joe McMeans. “The Members of Local Union 1200 are remarkable individuals,” said International District 20 Vice President Larry Spencer. “They really do look out for one another. They all understand what goes into producing a quality product, more importantly they know how to do it safely. I couldn’t be prouder of these Members.”
“I am tired of hearing people talk about a so-called ‘just transition’ in America’s coalfields,” President Roberts said. “There never has been any such thing in the history of our nation. UMWA members know that, their families know that, and the people in their communities know that. Let’s stop talking about this in meaningless terms. Let’s start talking about what reality looks like and what can actually be achieved.”
