News & Media

All News & Media

UMWA furious over Consol’s motion to dissolve Murray Energy

Source: WV MetroNews April 29, 2020   CHARLESTON, W.Va.– The United Mine Workers of America is livid over a request by Consol Energy to have the assets of bankrupt coal producer Murray Energy liquidated. Consol, one of Murray’s largest creditors, recently asked a bankruptcy judge to change the company’s Chapter 11 filing in which they […]

Consol Energy threatens jobs, retirement benefits in bankruptcy court filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 29, 2020   [TRIANGLE, VA.] Recent filings by Consol Energy in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization case of Murray Energy could, if successful, destroy the jobs of thousands of miners living in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) said today.   “Consol Energy’s filing asking […]

UMWA’s Roberts statement on Workers Memorial Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 28, 2020   [TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today, in commemoration of Workers Memorial Day: “The United Mine Workers have long fought for better health and safety on the job, as we have lost more members than any other […]

Dr Cohen’s letter concerning DOL’s Black Lung examinations during the Coronavirus pandemic

Dr. Cohen, the principal investigator of the Black Lung Clinic Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, sent the following letter to the nation’s black lung clinics this week. The letter is in regards to the Department of Labor’s Black Lung examination policy during the Coronavirus pandemic. Because miners with black lung are at […]

More unions rescind Hutchison campaign endorsements following right-to-work ruling

Source: West Virginia Record April 27,2020   CHARLESTON – At least four more unions have rescinded their endorsements of Justice John Hutchison’s state Supreme Court campaign following his vote to uphold the state’s right-to-work law. Political Action Committees for the United Mine Workers of America, the United Steelworkers, the state branch of the American Federation of […]

2020 UMWA Workers Memorial Video (Farmington Mine Disaster)

The United Mine Workers have long fought for better health and safety on the job, as we have lost more members than any other union to disasters and occupational diseases. Indeed, miners and their families led the way in demanding creation of the first federal occupational safety enforcement agency, the Mine Safety and Health Administration […]

UMWA withdraws endorsement of Hutchison for West Virginia Court seat

[CHARLESTON, W.V.] The West Virginia State Council of COMPAC, the United Mine Workers of America’s (UMWA) political arm, yesterday voted unanimously to withdraw the organization’s endorsement of Justice John Hutchison for a seat on the West Virginia Court of Appeals. “Since 1890, the core principles of the UMWA have always been to fight for workers’ […]

Residents encouraged to light a candle on April 28

Source: Estevan Mercury Publications  April 22, 2020   The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) are encouraging local residents to light a candle in honour of the annual Day of Mourning on April 28.     Traditionally the labour committee holds a brief Day of Mourning service at the coal car at the corner of Souris Avenue […]

I’ve already got infected lungs’: for sick coal miners COVID-19 is a death sentence

Source: The Guardian April 20, 2020   Seven years ago John Robinson of Coeburn, Virginia, was diagnosed with black lung. A coal miner for nearly 30 years, 54-year-old Robinson and many of his fellow workers already faced years of health issues. And then came Covid-19. “It’s easier for us to get sick because of lung […]

Letter to President Trump – MSHA COVID-19 Safety Standard

April 17, 2020   A letter today was sent to President Trump by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin III (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-Oho), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Robert Casey Jr. (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mark Warner (D-VA) echoing the UMWA’s call to the Mine Safety and Health Administration to exercise its […]

Manchin seeking clear COVID-19 guidance for black lung clinics

Source: The Register-Herald April 16, 2020   charleston – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has asked the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to immediately provide clinics and the miners they serve with clear, written guidance regarding how miner’s black lung […]

Additional funding headed to WV for laid-off coal miners

Source: 12WBOY April 14, 2020     CHARLESTON, W.Va. – On Monday, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced $2,429,090 in additional National Dislocated Worker Grant funding will go toward helping laid-off coal miners in West Virginia, according to a news release for U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. Workforce West Virginia, in partnership with the United […]

UMWA members ratify new contract at Murray Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 9, 2020   [TRIANGLE, VA.] Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) working at bankrupt Murray Energy yesterday ratified a new collective bargaining agreement by a 82% -18% vote. The company’s debtors, who will become the owners of the new company that emerges from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, […]

Union Plus How will Coronavirus Aid Package (“CARES ACT”) Impact Your Family?

Source: Union Plus     The CARES Act is a stimulus package that became law last week. The Act includes measures intended to stimulate the economy and provide financial relief to individuals, as well as small businesses and large corporations. The Act is 883 pages, but here are some quick take-aways of the measures that […]

UMWA, Murray Energy reach tentative collective bargaining agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 2, 2020   [Triangle, Va.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today announced that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the bankrupt Murray Energy. If ratified, the anticipated new owners of the company have agreed to recognize the terms and conditions of the tentative agreement. […]

Sign Up for Email Updates