Source: MetroNews
Date: March 11, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Longtime United Mine Workers Union President Cecil Roberts has announced his retirement bringing to a close 30-years of leading the labor organization.
Roberts, a native of Cabin Creek, told the UMWA’s International Executive Board on Jan. 16 that he will retire at the close of the International Special Convention that will be held in October in St. Louis.
The union made the announcement in a social media post Tuesday.
“I am going to retire at the end of the Special Convention. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world. It has been 59 years since I was drafted, and I survived Vietnam, returned home and have been able to live for 50 plus years. I contracted cancer because of Vietnam, but I’m cancer free as of now and am working to remain so. I am a lucky guy,” said Roberts.
“Brian Sanson is going to be your next president. I want everybody to know that I am going to do everything I can to support him, and I’m going to do everything in my power to get him elected when the next elections come around. I will put my name on every piece of material I can in support of him. I suggest that we all ought to do the same.”
After returning home from Vietnam, the fiery Roberts got a job at Carbon Fuel’s No. 31 Mine near Winifrede in eastern Kanawha County. He was elected vice president of UMWA District 17 in 1977. He began serving as UMWA International Vice President in December 1982. He took over for Rich Trumka as president of the union on Oct. 22, 1995.
Roberts is known for holding up the union’s past and fighting for its future.
In a September 2021 commemorative march to remember the Battle of Blair Mountain, Roberts told MetroNews.
“This is something that labor is determined to keep visible, This is something that led to organizing not only in West Virginia but across the country.”
Tuesday’s announcement from the UMWA said Roberts looks forward to spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when he retires.
Written By: Jeff Jenkins
