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Herkimer County IDA OKs tax breaks for Remington Arms buyer

Source: Times Telegram February 25, 2021   RemArms, the company that is gearing up to operate the former Remington Arms plant in Ilion, has been approved for a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreement, according to Herkimer County Industrial Development Agency Executive Director John Piseck. The IDA board approved the PILOT agreement for the […]

Court approves deal for rehiring Decker miners

Source: Sheridan Media February 23, 2021     A federal court has approved a tentative agreement under which up to 30 employees of Decker Coal Mine could be rehired to complete reclamation  or cleanup of the mine site north of Sheridan.   Utah-based Lighthouse Resources Inc., which owns the mine, declared Bankruptcy last December, and […]

UMWA’s Roberts calls for direct negotiations with Italia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 24, 2021   [ILION, N.Y.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts said today that “the time for negotiating a contract at the RemArms plant in Ilion through the media needs to end,” and called on Roundhill CEO Richmond Italia to meet face-to-face and complete negotiations for […]

As nation freezes, fossil fuels are keeping the lights and heat on

Source: The Hill February 16, 2021 Much of the Midwest and the Mountain States are seeing subzero temperatures and blizzard conditions sweep through. As far south as Dallas, a polar vortex has caused temperatures to dip into the 20s, with ice and snow. In parts of Minnesota, temperatures dipped to near their lowest levels in […]

The Alabama Amazon Union Drive Could Be the Most Important Labor Fight in the South in Decades

Source: JACOBIN AN INTERVIEW WITH: MICHAEL GOLDFIELD The union organizing campaign currently underway at an Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama could prove to be the most important labor fight in the South since the failure of Operation Dixie, the movement’s last large-scale push to organize the South in the late 1940s. The story of that […]

Battle of Blair Mountain Centennial

Source: Williamson Daily News   MATEWAN — The Blair Centennial team recently released a lineup of events to take place in lead up and during Labor Day Weekend, all of which are dedicated to commemorating the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain. The Battle of Blair Mountain was a landmark event in United States […]

SaskPower exporting 175 megawatts of power to states affected by cold snap

Source: Estevan Mercury February 16, 2021 SaskPower has announced it is currently exporting 175 megawatts (MW) of electricity south to provide relief as extreme cold conditions strain electrical systems and leave millions without power in parts of the United States. “In Saskatchewan we know first-hand the challenges posed by extreme winter weather, and being part […]

United Mine Workers donate to Hopedale Fire Department in name of former mayor

Source: WTOV 9 Fox February 17, 2021   Click here to watch video.   The United Mineworkers made a donation to the Hopedale Fire Department in the name of former Hopedale Mayor and UMW District 6 President Larry Ward. “We’re trying to make people aware how critical the EMS units are in this area to […]

Standing United, Living Divided: Black coal miners and their fight for justice

Source: WCHS Eyewitness News MATEWAN, W.Va. (WCHS) — At the start of its statehood coming out of the Civil War, West Virginia experienced a coal boom like no other. With that, came a high demand for men willing to go underground. Companies recruited across the country and even into Europe but specifically targeted African Americans […]

UMWA sees no issues to reopening Remington plant in Ilion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 16, 2021 UMWA sees no issues to reopening Remington plant in Ilion [ILION, N.Y.] Responding to news reports that the new owners of Remington Outdoor Company plant in Ilion are again threatening to not reopen the plant, United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement […]

Union Plus: Vision Insurance

Source: Union Plus Open your eyes to great savings Save an average $200+ a year on eye care and eyewear1 with VSP® Individual Vision Plans from Union Plus. Big vision savings for union families Union families save big on eye exams, eyewear, contacts and more with VSP®: Individual Vision Plans from Union Plus. Savings include: […]

COVID-19 Mine Workers Protection Act Re-Introduced In Congress

Source: WTRF February 10, 2021 CHARLESTON, WV — Just this year, the U.S. Department of Labor recorded three mining deaths. While none of them are related to COVID-19, supporters of the COVID-19 Mine Workers Protection Act say it’s one more threat miners face below the ground. The bill was recently re-introduced in congress and is […]

Powder River Basin coal mine ceases operations, asks court to reject pension and health care obligations

Source: Star Tribune February 5, 2021   APowder River Basin coal mine has closed down for the first time in modern history. At the end of January, mining ceased at the Decker coal mine in Montana after the owner of the mine filed for bankruptcy late last year. Home to some of the world’s largest […]

Remington’s new owner talks strike, union says no way

Source: Times Union February 4, 2021   Owner raises prospect of stoppage but union says they have no plans to strike ILION — Strike? What strike? That’s what officials of the union representing laid-off employees of the Remington Outdoor gun factory here are saying after the company’s new owner raised the prospect of a labor […]

BC Labour Heritage Center Plaque Unveiling

Source: BC Labour Heritage Centre December 12, 2021 On Saturday, December 12th, 2020, the BC Labour Heritage Centre held a virtual unveiling of the new historic plaque in Nanaimo, BC. The plaque recognizes the Great Coal Strike lasting from 1912-1914. The strike is considered the fiercest labor dispute in the province’s history. The plaque is […]

UMWA’s Roberts: No one wants the Remington plant open more than the union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 4, 2021   [ILION, N.Y.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:   “I was surprised and saddened to see news reports about statements Mr. Richmond Italia apparently made regarding the workforce at the former Remington Arms plant in Ilion, New York. […]

Actively Retired Charles “Hawkeye” Dixon

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 […]

Bankruptcy Court ruling against Consol a victory for former Murray Energy miners, retirees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 3, 2021 Bankruptcy Court ruling against Consol a victory for former Murray Energy miners, retirees [TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on Monday’s ruling by the Ohio federal Bankruptcy Court overseeing the bankruptcy of the former Murray Energy which denied Consol Energy’s attempt to overturn the bankruptcy case, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) […]

Consol can’t appeal Murray’s bankruptcy plan, a judge rules

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette February 3, 2021   Consol Energy Inc. was dealt another blow in its campaign against the bankruptcy plan of an Ohio-based rival. A judge ruled on Monday that Consol doesn’t have standing to appeal the plan of bankrupt miner Murray Energy Inc. It was approved in May. Cecil-based Consol, which sold […]

Union Plus: Flowers & Gifts

Source: Union Plus Save 30% on Valentine’s Day flowers Valentine’s Day celebrations may be a little different this year. Make sure to brighten a dinner table from afar with beautiful bouquets and centerpieces from Teleflora. How to get the union member discount for flowers and gifts Your  discount should be applied automatically. If you encounter […]

Coal Workers Defend Mining

Source: Medicine Hat News February 2, 2021 Coal mine workers in Alberta say they understand the need to balance environmental concerns about their industry with the financial benefits derived from the product they produce. “We have been clear on this: mining yes, but not everywhere, everytime,” says United Steelworkers Western Canadian director Stephen Hunt, whose […]

Senators introduce COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act, UMWA commends bill

Source: 12WBOY February 1, 2021 CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), along with officials from several other states, have introduced a bill to protect miners from COVID-19 exposure. A press release issued by Senator Manchin’s Office stated that he and Senator Capito, along with Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), […]

Roberts, Trumka mourn passing of John Sweeney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 2, 2021   Roberts, Trumka mourn passing of John Sweeney [Triangle, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today as the entire American labor movement mourns the passing of AFL-CIO President Emeritus John Sweeney: “I met John Sweeney when John, Richard […]

Manchin, Capito, team with others to reintroduce miners’ COVID protection bill

Source: The Dominion Post February 1, 2021 MORGANTOWN – West Virginia Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito have again teamed with other senators to reintroduce the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act. The bill would direct the U.S. Secretary of Labor to issue an emergency temporary standard (ETS) that requires mine operators to develop and […]

MSHA ETS legislation a critical tool to keep miners safe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 1, 2021   [TRIANGLE, VA.] Today’s introduction of the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act in Congress will provide the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) a critical and vitally-needed tool to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 among America’s nearly 200,000 miners employed in the nation’s coal, metal and nonmetal mines, […]

President Roberts Appoints New Officers

  At the October 15, 2020, virtual meeting of the International Executive Board, President Roberts announced that Gary Trout will retire as Region 2 Director and International District 17 Vice President, effective November 1st. President Roberts has appointed Brother Brian Lacy, UMWA District 17 Representative, to replace Gary Trout as the new International District 17 […]

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