Journal Archive - Page 8 of 10 - United Mine Workers of America

Black lung Surges; A Tragedy – But Not a Surprise

From the early days of the 20th Century, until the passage of the 1969 Coal Act in the wake of the Farmington #9 Disaster, over 100,000 miners died in the United States from Black Lung Disease. In 1978, the federal Mine Safety and Health Act set limits on miner’s exposure to respirable dust, and the incidents of Black Lung slowly decreased across the industry. By the mid-1990’s, many in the industry were touting the eradication of the disease all together.

In 2016, that notion was shattered when National Public Radio (NPR) announced it had uncovered an alarming increase in the worst kind of Black Lung cases known as Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) or complicated Black Lung in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio. The report showed that from 2010, until its release in December of 2016, eleven Black Lung clinics in these four states identified 962 cases of the disease. NIOSH reported a small clinic in Kentucky had diagnosed 60 cases of PMF in a twenty month period.

As Black Lung Rates Increase, Government Tries to Back Away

“This is an extremely disturbing situation,” said Secretary-Treasurer Allen. “In December of 2016, we hear that NPR is breaking a story about a huge increase in Black Lung cases among younger, less experienced miners. Then, just a month later, in January of 2017, the U.S Department. of Labor issued a notice of Proposed Rule making for the sole purpose of reducing medical benefit payments from the Black Lung Trust Fund. Now we are learning that the incidence of the disease is far worse than first reported and is considered by some experts to be an epidemic. This is absolutely unacceptable. We must determine the reason for the spike in Black Lung cases and take action to address the problem. At the same time, we need to ensure miners who have contracted the disease receive the medical treatment they deserve.” The latest report issued by NIOSH in February of 2018, confirms 416 cases of PMF in three clinics in central Appalachia from 2013 to 2017. According to news reports, NIOSH epidemiologist Scott Laney noted, “This is the largest cluster of progressive massive fibrosis ever reported in scientific literature.

This is a Compliance Problem

“The resurgence of this horrible disease is the result of many factors that are impacting the coal industry today,” stated President Roberts. “Many experts and industry officials have cited a litany of reasons for the increase, but in the end, none of those things matter. The fact is, Black Lung is a preventable occupational illness. With the knowledge we have about how this disease is contracted and the technology currently available to mitigate respirable coal mine dust, there is no reason for a miner to contract Black Lung. This is not a dust problem, it is an enforcement and compliance problem. It is about mine operators putting production above miners’ health and safety while state and federal agencies worry more about compliance assistance programs than they do about enforcing the law. Steps must be taken immediately to correct this situation.” Stone Mountain Health Services, which operates clinics and services miners primarily from Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia, generally diagnoses five to seven cases of PMF annually. In recent years, that number has skyrocketed. Since NIOSH concluded its fieldwork just over a year ago, Stone Mountain Clinics have diagnosed 154 new cases of PMF. “It is absolutely outrageous to be in this situation in 2018,” said President Roberts. “We know how to prevent this disease, but given these numbers, it is clear preventative measures are being ignored. We also know that once a miner contracts Black Lung, there is no cure. They will be subjected to the slow and painful death by suffocation that is the end result of this insidious disease. Miners and their families deserve better, and the UMWA will do all it can to see this problem is properly addressed.”

For more information about the recent Black Lung reports click here.

Country’s Most Notorious Coal Baron Running for U.S. Senate

In the wake of the deaths of 54 coal miners, 29 at the Upper Big Branch mine alone, while running Massey Energy, being convicted by a jury of his peers of conspiring to violate federal safety standards and serving a year in a California correctional facility, Don Blankenship is opting for a new career.

Blankenship, like other individuals who have money they want to translate to power, has decided to use his fortune to run for the U.S. Senate. According to Blankenship’s official filing with the West Virginia Secretary of State and the Federal Election Commission (FEC), he has listed his address as a post office box in Williamson, West Virginia. The filing appears to contradict statements made by Blankenship and his criminal defense lawyers who have repeatedly told the federal courts that Blankenship’s “home” is in Las Vegas.

Article 1, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution states, “No person shall be a Senator … who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state from which he shall be chosen.” Technically, he still has time to establish residency in the State of West Virginia prior to election day. However, his actions since being released from prison and comments by a law enforcement official in Nevada, raise questions about how he intends to adhere to the Constitutional requirements. The convicted coal baron’s one year of supervised release ends May 9, which is one day after West Virginia’s primary election. At Blankenship’s request, his supervised release recently was transferred to a federal court in Nevada. According to press reports, a probation officer in Las Vegas also told the court that Blankenship has purchased a home in Nevada and plans to make that “his primary domicile.”

“The idea that Blankenship is running for the U.S. Senate should be enough to keep the citizens of West Virginia, and the rest of the country for that matter, up at night,” said Secretary-Treasurer Allen. “On the surface, some people might think this situation is laughable, but we need to take this very seriously. His track record, while operating Massey Energy, was horrendous. We cannot take the chance of him becoming a Senator.” “I would suggest that the Constitutional questions that have been raised about Blankenship’s ability to run for a Senate seat in West Virginia while living in Nevada are legitimate concerns. However, let’s not forget who we are discussing here,” said President Roberts. “He had absolutely no respect for the law while operating Massey Energy, so I have no doubt that he isn’t too concerned about the requirements contained in the United States Constitution. His contempt for anything that is not about him, is just who Don is.”

“ The announcement by convicted criminal Don Blankenship of his intention to run for United States Senate is not a total shock, but it does demonstrate how low the bar can be for some individuals seeking public office. However, being a candidate and getting elected are two completely different issues. I have absolute faith that the citizens of West Virginia, who know him better than anyone, will roundly reject his bid to hold such an important position.” – Cecil Roberts

Williamson Hospital, Your Friends on “the Hill”

UMWA Local Union 9462 Members, Serving the Community

Williamson Memorial Hospital was established in Williamson, West Virginia in 1918 to provide health care service to the residents of Mingo County. The County, like most other rural coalfield communities from the turn of the last century through the 1950s, lacked adequate facilities to care for its citizens. The founding of the Hospital on “the Hill” has been a blessing to area residents and continues to live up to its mission statement to ensure the “delivery of compassionate health care to improve the quality of life to the community we serve.”

Providing these life-sustaining and life-saving services requires a dedicated and committed staff. This physically demanding and often emotionally draining work falls to the devoted Members of UMWA Local Union 9462. These sixty Members make up every facet of the hospital staff, including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Housekeepers, Dietary Aids, and Maintenance Technicians.

“We offer a wide variety of services here, so our membership is very diverse,” said Local Union President Susan Blackburn. “Caring for each patient is the main concern. Whether the Member is an LPN or dietary aid, the main focus is making sure the patient is treated like family. I have been the Local President since we ratified our first contract over 23 years ago, and I have come to know and appreciate every one of our Members. They are an amazing group of people whose overriding concern is the comfort and care of the patients.”

It’s all about Helping Friends and Neighbors

“Caring for the sick and injured in society is a noble calling that requires very special people. The ability to offer comfort and su

Williamson Memorial Hospital, Local Union 9462, is an acute care hospital located in Mingo County, West Virginia

pport can be difficult in the best circumstances, but the long hours and difficult conditions that exist in many community hospitals can be extremely challenging,” said President Roberts. “We all need to remember, that at facilities like Williamson, our Members are providing services to rural communities where they live. Most of the patients that arrive at the Hospital are friends, neighbors, and family. This reality increases the physical and emotional stress that is already inherent in every healthcare facility. Mingo County is particularly fortunate to have such skilled and caring people working in their community, and the UMWA is a better organization because they are Members of the Union.”

Brenda Miller, Local Union President Susan Blackburn and Tammy Davis are three of the more than 60 members of Local Union 9462 in District 17 who work at Williamson Memorial Hospital.

In recent years, the hospital and employees have been recognized by the Joint Commission – the nation’s leading healthcare standards-setting and accrediting organization – for exemplary performance in providing patient treatment for Pneumonia, Surgical Care, and Immunizations. They are one of about 1,000 hospitals nationwide to receive such a distinction. The Joint Commission also recognized the facility for following the strict guidelines and standards to effectively manage and meet the unique and specialized needs of the patients. Williamson received this prestigious Commission’s Seal of Approval after specially trained investigators assessed the Hospital’s overall practices and determined they met the necessary standards for compliance.

“The fact that Williamson Memorial received this recognition isn’t a surprise to anyone who knows the people who work at the hospital,” stated International District 17 Vice President Gary Trout. “They are truly remarkable individuals. Every single Member of Local Union 9462 goes to work every day knowing that they make a difference in the lives of each patient. They take that responsibility very seriously, and the impact of their efforts is felt throughout the entire community. They are very much the heart and soul of Mingo County.”

We have some of the Best Members in the Union

Gladys Baker works in housekeeping and has been a UMWA Member for more than 20 years. “It’s important to understand the value of the Union,” said Gladys. “There are many situations that occur in the workplace that can adversely affect an employee. Without the Union in those situations, the individual may not be able to defend themselves or have their side of the story told. That’s why using all the tools provided in a Union contract, like the grievance procedure, is so important. We are lucky to be part of the UMWA.”

Michael “Rick” Mosley has worked at Williamson Memorial for over 23 years. He is currently working as a dietary aid.

Brenda Miller, a dietary aid at Williamson, has worked at the facility for four years and believes the job security provided in her Union contract is extremely important. “I know that when I come to work every day, I can focus on my job taking care of the patients,” said Brenda. “There are a lot of issues that can come up on a given day that you don’t expect. I need to be able to adjust to these changing situations and get the job done for each patient. I don’t have to worry about being disciplined or losing my job for some unjust reason. It’s just one of the many protections Union Membership guarantees.”

The Local is preparing to Negotiate a Successor Agreement in 2018

The Officers and Members of Local 9462 are preparing to negotiate a new Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Hospital in the coming year, but they are not overly concerned about the prospects. “We do not have any major concerns about the upcoming negotiations,” said President Blackburn. “We’ve been around long enough to understand the process. We hold our monthly Membership meetings in the Hospital lunch room to give everyone a chance to attend voice their opinion and learn what the Membership needs in the next Contract. We have always been able to work together to negotiate and ratify the Contract.”

Gladys Baker works in housekeeping at the hospital and has been a Member of Local Union 9492 for over 20 years.

“The members of Local Union 9462 are an impressive group of people,” said Secretary-Treasurer Allen. “They are the kind of Members who founded this Union. They have an incredible sense of community and caring for their neighbors and friends. They also understand the role the Union plays in their lives and how their participation is vital to the Union.”

Black Lung Champion Charles E. Brooks Remembered

Charles E. Brooks may not be a name recognized by many people outside the area around Cedar Grove, WV where he was born and raised or even among many members of the West Virginia Black Lung Association, but miners across the Nation owe him a debt of gratitude.

Charlie or Brooks to his friends began his mining career in 1941 and was a Member of UMWA Local Union 2236, the same Local Union as President Roberts. During his time with the Union, Brooks’ dedication, determination and compassion for his fellow miners would help create a movement that demanded coal operators and the government take notice and address the unhealthy conditions miners were forced to work in.

In his early career, Brooks, like all miners at the time, worked in the confined areas of underground coal mines without regulations requiring adequate ventilation or limiting their exposure to coal mine dust. The situation was so dangerous miners could not see more than a few feet through the thick float coal dust that was suspended in the mine atmosphere. And while dust explosions killed thousands of miners, it ultimately claimed tens of thousands of miners who suffocated from Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung Disease).

During the mid-1960’s UMWA miners, mostly from the southern West Virginia coal fields, became increasingly vocal in demanding the state government take action to protect miners from excessive coal mine dust and compensate miners who had contracted Black Lung Disease.

Brooks Risked Everything to fight for Black Lung Benefits In 1968, Brooks mortgaged his home to raise money and hire former State Senator Paul Kaufman, to lobby the West Virginia legislature to pass Black Lung legislation. Later that year the West Virginia Black Lung Association was founded and Charles E. Brooks, an African American coal miner from Cedar Grove, was elected its first President.

On March 11, 1969 the Governor of West Virginia signed the first Black Lung legislation in the history of the United States. Later that year, President Richard Nixon would sign the Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (the Mine Act). Thanks to the efforts of Charles E. Brooks and his fellow miners, the Mine Act would establish coal dust standards in underground mines and recognize Black Lung Disease as a compensable occupational illness.

“The passage of Black Lung legislation proves a couple of things about coal miners,” said President Roberts. “First of all, no one was ever going to give us anything—we have had to fight for everything we have. And we have been so blessed with leaders who will sacrifice everything they have and fight for their Brothers and Sisters. Charles Brooks was the right person to lead the fight for Black Lung legislation and to serve as the first President of the Black Lung Association. He was truly a remarkable individual.”

UMWA Local Union 425 – Helping to Build The Nation

The Members of UMWA Local Union 425 working at Carmeuse Lime and Stone take great pride in their ability to mine the natural resources that help build our Nation’s infrastructure. The more than 95 classified employees at the Maysville, KY facility have been members of the UMWA since they first voted to join the Union on April 25, 2008. “Since we voted to join the UMWA, Carmeuse has changed substantially for the better,” said Local Union President Keith Shoemaker. “Having a Union contract makes a huge difference.

We have greater job security, a grievance procedure and a Health and Safety Committee. The company treats the workers with a lot more respect. We have been through a great deal to get where we are, and we just can’t take it for granted.” Brother Shoemaker began working at Carmeuse right out of high school as a general inside laborer. At the time he didn’t think his mining job would be a long term career. In fact, Keith didn’t think he would last six weeks on the job.

Today, after more than 37 years with the company, he is a heavy equipment operator and doesn’t plan on changing careers anytime soon. The mine and plant produce quicklime and chemical grade limestone, most often used to make steel and for water treatment. They also produce crushed limestone for use in asphalt and ready mix concrete.

Local Union Vice President Dennis Newman has worked at the Maysville operation for 35 years, the last fifteen years as a mechanic. He said one of the most important aspects of being part of the Union is the ability to enforce safety on the job. “This can be a very dangerous profession,” Newman said. “And you need to make sure management is following the proper safety procedures. Being part of the Union allows people like me to stand up to those who are trying to bend the rules. It’s up to us to look out for everyone’s safety at the operation.”

“The Members of Local Union 425 are really a dedicated and hard working group of people. On February 27, 2017 the Membership ratified a new three year collective bargaining agreement at the operation,” said International District 17 Vice President Gary Trout. “The materials they produce are used every day in homes across the country and are essential for building and improving the Nation’s infrastructure. We are so proud of these individuals and are happy they are Members of UMWA District 17.”

The Local holds its meetings on the last Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Orangeburg Fire Department in Tollesboro, KY. Every Member who attends the meeting has their name entered into a raffle to win a prize. The Local is also planning to purchase UMWA hats for the Membership to thank them for their active support and solidarity during contract negotiations. “These are just a couple of ways we try to motivate the Members to stay active and engaged in the Local,” said President Shoemaker. “We are also planning a cookout this summer to celebrate our contract ratification. It’s a time for us to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Most of the time we only see each other at the plant or when we have Union business to take care of, so we don’t really get a chance to talk about other things. The cookout will allow us to do that.”

Local Union 425 Member Jeff Stewart has worked at Carmeuse for sixteen years. He serves on both the Hazard Detection Committee and the Grievance Committee at the facility. Brother Stewart is a first generation Union Member and is very proud to be a Member of the UMWA. “I didn’t grow up in a Union family,” said Brother Stewart. “My father worked in a non-Union factory, so it was something I wasn’t really familiar with. I just know that I didn’t like seeing management treat people unfairly, so when the UMWA started an organizing drive here, I didn’t hesitate to sign a card.”

“The UMWA is blessed with an extremely diversified and dedicated Membership,” stated President Roberts. “The Members of Local Union 425 represent a sector of the metal/nonmetal mining industry that plays such an important role in all our lives. The natural resources they mine and process are used to make steel for construction, aggregate for roads and can even be used to soften the water we use in our homes.

Sometimes when we think about the work that people do we fail to recognize how it affects us every day. This may be especially true when you look at large industrial operations like a limestone quarry, but it’s clear these Members provide a service we can’t live without. The UMWA is fortunate to have these Members in its ranks.”

U.S. Department of Labor’s new Black Lung Medical Payments Proposed Rule

Does it Reduce Costs or Eliminate Benefits?

The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (Agency) in the U.S. Department of Labor issued a notice of Proposed Rulemaking and request for comments on January 4, 2017. The proposal deals specifically with the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA): Medical Benefit Payments from the Black Lung Trust Fund to every category of medical provider including hospitals, doctors and clinics.

The background information provided by the Agency notes several times that the payments to providers for Black Lung related services will be reduced. The Agency also stresses on numerous occasions that payment reductions will be advantageous because the…“Trust Fund is more likely to be fully reimbursed for the payments it makes on an interim basis.” They also anticipate cost savings based on reduced payments from the Trust Fund for miners eligible to receive medical treatment when the operator responsible for their Black Lung treatments cannot or will not make the required payments.

“The United Mine Workers has carefully reviewed the Rule proposed by the Office of Workers Compensation Programs and is deeply concerned that in an effort to unilaterally reduce costs, they have lost sight of what is important—the health and well-being of the miners and their families,” stated President Roberts. “It is unclear when you examine the proposal if the Agency is looking out for the best interest of disabled miners or trying to save money for mine operators who are ultimately responsible for paying the medical bills of these individuals. This is a bad proposal, and the Union will do whatever it can to see that it doesn’t take effect.”

The Proposed Cuts would be Devastating

While the Agency claims the average cuts to the program amount to approximately 7 percent of total benefits paid, the decreases for some states are drastic. In Kentucky, for instance, inpatient hospital costs in 2014 were paid at 36 percent of total billing. Under the Proposed Rule those payments would be reduced to 26.5 percent of billing, a cut in benefit payments of almost $1.3 million per year. In Florida, where many UMWA Members reside, the cuts would be even more severe, from 64 percent of total billing to less than 18 percent. The most glaring example of these draconian cuts are the payments made for outpatient hospital services, cuts that would affect every state in the program. The Agency is proposing reimbursement for these services at just 20 percent of current payments; a reduction of 72 percent.

“The Union is convinced that the Proposed Rule, as it is written, would damage the Black Lung Program so severely that it would eventually become even more ineffective, leaving miners disabled from the Disease without adequate medical care,” said International Secretary-Treasurer Scaramozzino. “The Agency discusses how the cuts they are proposing will have little impact on the health care industry as a whole, but they seem to ignore the fact that small communities, where these services are offered, are not reflective of large metropolitan areas in the Country. The proposal appears to be aimed at reducing payment schedules to the point it forces providers to stop offering services that miners are entitled to under the BLBA. The UMWA Department of Occupational Health and Safety has already submitted comments opposing the Agency’s Proposed Rule. It will continue doing whatever is necessary to ensure miners receive the benefits the BLBA is required to pay.”

Members of L.U. 1412- Serving the Community

The Indiana County Recycling Center (Center) is located just off route 119 North in the town of Homer City, PA. Operated by the Indiana County Solid Waste Authority, the Center was created in 1988 to help Indiana County comply with Pennsylvania Act 101, the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (Act).

The Act governs how cities and counties in the Commonwealth provide for the management and disposal of municipal waste. The day-to-day operations of the Center are carried out by seven Members of UMWA Local Union 1412. The Union has been representing the workers at the Center since November of 1997, when the employees first decided to organize a Union at the facility. Members of Local Union 1412 arrive at the Center around 7:00 a.m. to begin their work day.

The process for recycling is divided into two specific areas, with some of the workforce heading out into the communities to begin curbside residential pick-up and others remaining in the facility to operate the equipment. “The Members of Local 1412, who are employed at the recycling Center, are some very hard working people,” said At- Large International Vice President Donnie Samms. “They perform a vital service that helps the community. They do a great job, and we should all be proud they are members of the UMWA.”

Mike Bowersox has been a Member of the UMWA since he first started at the Center eleven years ago. He became involved in the Union shortly after getting hired and is currently a member of the Safety and Grievance Committees at the facility. When he started work, Brother Bowersox separated materials in the plant, a job known as a picker. In a short period of time he became a truck driver, the job he continues to do five days a week.

The Center remains open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for area residents who wish to drop-off materials during nonworking hours. It also provides satellite locations for individuals living in more rural locations who wish to participate in the recycling program. Drivers trans-port dumpsters to designated locations throughout the County, retrieving them later to process the contents. “The UMWA is proud of the diverse Membership we represent.

The variety of jobs they perform and the professionalism they bring to the workplace is impressive,” said International District 2 Vice President Ed Yankovich. The Members of Local Union 1412 who work at the Center perform an extremely important public service for the community. We should all appreciate their hard work and dedication.”

Every day vast amounts of material arrive at the Center. They include a variety of recyclable products, such as aluminum cans, cardboard, newspapers, magazines and plastic bottles. When the material arrives on-site, ether by truck or at the residential drop-off area, they are placed in bins or piles inside the center for sorting, the first stage in the recycling process. The aluminum cans are placed on the conveyor belt to be crushed and packaged. Plastic, cardboard and paper products are placed in a machine and packaged into bails.

John Doyle, another Local 1412 Member at the Center, started working at the facility more than 18 years ago. He currently works as a processor inside the facility, operating the forklift, conveyor belts and front end loader. “I started out here as a picker over 18 years ago and have had several jobs since then,” said Brother Doyle. “I drove a truck for curbside and satellite pick-ups for a while, now I operate the on-site equipment in and around the Center. I have been a Member of the UMWA since the day I started. I’m on the Safety Committee and have never had an issue we couldn’t resolve. That’s because we stick together, and the Union is always there for us.”

In addition to the other services the Center provides to County residents, they also offer designated appliance and electronics drop-off times, special materials collection, as well as training classes to help educate residents on the importance of recycling. One of the most popular services offered is the composite materials site. Residents can drop off grass clippings, brush, leaves, Christmas trees or other materials suitable for compost at the Center.

These materials are then ground into mulch and offered to County residents free if they load it themselves or

for a fee of five dollars if John Doyle or another UMWA Member loads it with the skid loader. “I just can’t say enough about the dedicated Members of UMWA Local 1412 who work hard every day at the Indiana County Recycling Center,” said President Roberts. “They perform a variety of services day-in and day-out that are vital to the community.

It is especially noteworthy that they not only offer these services to the towns and larger communities in the County, but have made the extra effort to include the rural areas in the recycling effort. They make a difference in people’s lives every day, and we should all appreciate the job they are doing.”

UMWA Freedom Fighters – Born of Struggle, Shaping the Future

In April of 1989, after working for over a year without a contract, Members of the United Mine Workers of America in southwest Virginia laid down their tools and struck the Pittston Coal Company. The ensuing ten and a half month strike, which much like today’s struggle, hinged on protecting and preserving the pensions and health care active and retired miners had earned during a lifetime of toil in the mines.

In the course of the strike, the UMWA employed new tactics and devised different strategies for dealing with this renegade operator. However, perhaps the most significant and lasting creation of that battle was when a determined group of wives, mothers, daughters and friends of the striking miners banded together to form what became the UMWA Freedom Fighters.

“I have known and worked with the Freedom Fighters since they were founded over 28 years ago,” said At-Large International Vice President James Gibbs. “They organized themselves during the Pittston strike to stand in solidarity with the strikers. These are some of the best people I have ever met and I figured right then that Pittston had bitten off more than they could chew. These women were fighters and they weren’t going to stop until they won.

What is most extraordinary is they do this all on their own. They do the setup, the planning and they execute the plan. They do all the work. That is how they have operated since the day they were founded. They always do whatever they can to help the Union. I guarantee you that if they are called, they will be there.”

TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE, CONTACT THE JOURNAL DEPARTMENT (JOURNAL@UMWA.ORG OR 703-291-2405) AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE UNITED MINE WORKERS JOURNAL.

Black Lung Resurgence

Despite the best efforts of the United States Department of Labor through the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to control exposure to respirable coal mine dust, the number of Black Lung cases currently being diagnosed in Appalachia is unprecedented according to some researchers. In the decades since the passage of the 1977 Mine Act, MSHA has tried everything from new and more stringent regulations, including Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, final rule, the use of Continuous Personal Dust Monitors and compliance assistance initiatives to eliminate the conditions that lead to the disease.

While it appeared that incidence rate had declined in the 1990’s, recent data collected by National Public Radio (NPR) after a report was released by the National Black Lung Resurgence Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) demonstrate a huge increase in Black Lung rates, even among younger, less experienced miners. NPR obtained data from Black Lung Clinics in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia and Ohio that shows 11 clinics reporting 962 cases since 2010. This is nearly 10 times the number of cases reported by NIOSH during the past five years. NPR also stressed that the frequency rate could be even higher because some of the 11 clinics had incomplete records and eight other clinics refused to provide any information.

“This new information regarding the drastic increases in the occurrence of Black Lung Disease among miners, especially younger miners with less than 20 years underground, is alarming,” said President Roberts. “It certainly tells you there is something wrong, at least in certain segments of the industry, to allow this to occur. I applaud NPR for uncovering this information. Now we must use it to determine why this is happening and what we need to do to correct it.” As for NIOSH, they acknowledge in their report that they have missed hundreds of cases of the disease. They note the x-ray program is voluntary and only applies to working miners. They cannot compel anyone to participate in the program nor can it test laid-off or retired miners.

The situation is further complicated when you consider that miners often avoid testing because of fear of retribution or job loss by their employer. Since 2011 only 17 percent of Kentucky’s active mining workforce has been tested. “This new data is extremely disappointing, but not completely surprising,” said Secretary Treasurer Scaramozzino. “The Union has been making the case for years that larger and more powerful equipment coupled with ever increasing work shifts would have a detrimental impact on miners’ health. The Union is also not buying the explanation by some in the industry that these reports reflect historical exposures.

Many of these miners have been in the industry less than 20 years—these are today’s exposure and incident rates. We do commend the efforts by MSHA to take positive action to eliminate this disease, but if miners want to really reduce their exposure to respirable coal mine dust they need to join the Union. No one else is going to provide them the protections they deserve on the job—no one.”

The Membership Always Meets the Challenge

UMWA Members accompanied by elected officials and staff from across the coalfields arrived in Washington, DC to lobby on behalf of the Bill. These Members spent long days on Capitol Hill talking with Senators and House members, filling the galleries of both chambers to listen to hours of debate that would determine the fate of S-1714 and HB- 2403.

They attended Congressional briefings and press conferences late into the evenings, encouraging our friends in the Senate to continue the fight. These are the selfless actions that make the UMWA Membership so unique and powerful. When it would have been easier to stay home, these individuals, like all Mine Workers, rose to the occasion and carried the message of the Union to those in power.

I am pleased to report that those efforts made a huge difference. It is clear that the current IEB is one of the most active and engaged group of leaders the UMWA has been fortunate to have serve the Union in many decades. It should also be understood that the new members of the International Executive Board are fully engaged in this process and ready to continue the fight. I am so very pleased to have these individuals serve with me on the Board and every Member should be grateful for their unwavering dedication.

There is also another significant group of individuals who deserve our deepest appreciation and continued support. There are dozens of elected officials in both houses of Congress who have taken up the Promise of cradle-to-grave health care and pensions for the Nation’s miners. They have toiled beside us to force legislation that will “Keep the Promise” made by President Truman and reaffirmed by a succession of other U.S. Presidents from both political parties since 1946. Their tireless efforts in the past four years were instrumental in securing the health care extension UMWA members are enjoying today.