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UMWA demands OSHA involvement in the investigation of member’s passing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 29, 2019 UMWA demands OSHA involvement in the investigation of member’s passing United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today: “The hearts and prayers of the entire UMWA family are with the family of Zack Kromer, a 26-year old member of UMWA Local Union 2291, who […]

Vietnam War Veterans Day 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 29, 2019 United Mine Workers of America, International Union President Cecil E. Roberts encourages the membership of the UMWA and all Americans to take time to honor the women and men who served their country in the Vietnam War. “From November 1, 1955 until April 30, 1975 over 2.7 million young […]

National Vietnam War Veterans Day 2019

March 29th was marked by Congress in 2017 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts encourages the membership of the UMWA and all Americans to take time to honor the women and men who served their country in the Vietnam War.

Medical Bill Negotiating Service

Source: Union Plus Providing Union Members and Their Families with Assistance Negotiating Medical Bills Get Free Help With Your Medical Bills The Union Plus Medical Bill Negotiating Service by Health Advocate provides union members with large out-of-pocket medical bills FREE assistance negotiating bill reductions with physicians, hospitals and other medical providers.  The Service negotiates with […]

APNewsBreak: Federal black lung fund in danger of drying up

Source: AP News March 19, 2019 COEBURN, Va. (AP) — Former coal miner John Robinson’s bills for black lung treatments run $4,000 a month, but the federal fund he depends on to help cover them is being drained of money because of inaction by Congress and the Trump administration. Amid the turmoil of the government […]

UMWA mourns passing of Evelyn Roberts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 15, 2019 [CHARLESTON, W.VA.] The entire membership of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is mourning the passing of Mrs. Evelyn Roberts, mother of UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. Mrs. Roberts passed away February 19, 2019 and was laid to rest on February 22. She was born in Eskdale, […]

Union Plus Theme Park Discounts

Source: Union Plus   Time to Save and Splash at America’s Favorite Theme Parks   “My vacation was a huge success and so much fun thanks to the discounted theme park tickets!” SONYA – Union Member   Disney  Six Flags (Multiple locations) Adventureland Park Colonial Williamsburg Crayola Experience Dollywood Dorney Park Funtown Splashtown USA Hersheypark […]

2019 Workers Memorial Day

Source: AFL-CIO   NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker the right to a safe job. Unions and our allies have fought hard to make that promise a reality- winning protections that have made jobs safer and saved lives. But our work is not done. Each year, […]

AFL-CIO criticizes Green New Deal, calling it ‘not achievable or realistic’

Source: The Washington Post March 13, 2019 The AFL-CIO, the national arm for U.S. labor unions, offered a critical assessment of the Green New Deal, warning that the ambitious plan to combat climate change could adversely affect U.S. workers. In a letter last week to Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), […]

Black Lung Cases Skyrocket

According to a report published in the September 2018, edition of the American Journal of Public Health, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH or Agency), one in every ten coal miners who have worked for at least 25 years in the industry has been identified as suffering from Pneumoconiosis or Black Lung […]

Sen. Warner Meets with Coal Miners

Source: The Coalfield Progress March 8, 2019 In a meeting with United Mine Workers of America coal miners in Washington, D.C. Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner stressed the need to pass the American Miners Act of 2019, legislation he sponsored that would permanently protect the healthcare and pension benefits for thousands of Virginia’s retired […]

UMWA Works on Legislation to Benefit Westmoreland Retirees

Source: Kemmerer Gazette March 8, 2019 UMWA Local 1307 member Larry Hinton speaks about what’s at stake for retired Kemmerer coal miners. The bankrupt Westmoreland Coal Company may soon be free of all obligations to retired miners at the Kemmerer mine. But the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) has shifted gears in order to […]

United We Stand

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 8, 2019 [CHARLESTON, W.VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today: “A rogue group of members of the West Virginia House of Delegates has introduced resolutions to remove or censure Del. Mike Caputo for actions taken during a protest against a racist […]

UMW January/February Journal – An Interview with President Roberts

“Before we get started with our discussion, I would like to note that December 22, 2018, marked the start of a new term for the Line Officers, members of the International Executive Board (IEB) and District Representatives of the United Mine Workers of America. Many of the members of the IEB were re-elected to a […]

What Happened to West Virginia Values?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 6, 2019 [CHARLESTON, W. VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today: “The despicable, un-American display put up by a Republican Party organization in the State Capitol rotunda is a stark reminder that too many have turned their backs on traditional West […]

Westmoreland Bankruptcy – Everyone is at Risk

The bankruptcy at Westmoreland Coal does not just affect coal miners…   Everyone is at risk.   Call Congress today at 202-224-3121 and tell them to pass HR 934.   American communities depend on it.   #TheyEarnedIt #UMWA

The Fight Is Not Over For Westmoreland Retirees – UMWA

Source: Wyoming Public Media March 5, 2019 Retirees of the Kemmerer Coal Mine won’t be getting their expected health-care benefits, but the United Mine Workers of America aren’t giving up. Mike Dalpiaz, International Vice President for United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) representing coal mine workers in the Western U.S., said negotiations are underway with […]

Will Congress Fix Pension Crisis Before Coal Miners’ Pensions Disappear?

Source: Value Walk March 5, 2019 Worried About “The Cost of Inaction,“ Retired Coal Miners with Pensions at Risk Head to Capitol Hill as Education and Labor Committee Holds Hearing on Growing Pension Crisis. WASHINGTON – On Thurs., March 7, a Congressional hearing on “The Cost of Inaction: Why Congress Must Address the Multiemployer Pension Crisis,” […]

Labor Unions are Skeptical of the Green New Deal, and They Want Activist to Hear Them Out

Source: The Intercept March 4, 2019 DECIDING WHETHER TO sign onto the Green New Deal resolution is not an easy call for many members of Congress. They have to contend with the usual opponents: coal, utilities, oil companies, and other big-pocketed interests who like today’s economic order just fine. But even on the left, coalition-building can be […]

Alabama Bankruptcy Court Throws out Mission Coal Contract, Retiree Health Care and Pension Contributions for Retirees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 2, 2019 [BIRMINGHAM, ALA.]  Tamara O. Mitchell, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of Alabama, Southern Division, yesterday ruled that bankrupt Mission Coal Company could renege on its collective bargaining agreement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and end retiree health care and pension contributions. Cecil E. […]

UMWA Comments on Westmoreland Bankruptcy Proceedings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2019 [TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today: “As the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings of Westmoreland Coal draw to a close, I want to make sure our active and retired members and their families who are affected by this […]

Westmoreland Coal Can End Benefits For Retired Miners, Judge Rules

Source: NPR March 1, 2019 A judge has confirmed that yet another bankrupt coal company can end health benefits for hundreds of retired miners and their families. Congress is again weighing whether to help them.  

A Matter of Life or Death – Westmoreland Bankruptcy

Westmoreland Coal miners worked a lifetime for a secure retirement. Now, because of bad bankruptcy laws, that are stacked against workers, their future is at risk. Congress MUST ACT NOW to preserve the retirement these miners earned. #TheyEarnedIt Call your legislative representative at 202-224-3121 and tell them to pass HR 934.

How Bankruptcy Code Factors Into Lost Benefits For Westmoreland Retirees

Source: Wyoming Public Media March 1, 2019 Two years ago, Jim Bills retired from the Kemmerer mine in Southwestern Wyoming. “After spending seven years in the Air Force, I spent 36 years with Westmoreland coal,” he said. Bills worked as a laborer, truck driver, and driller. His son works there now, too. Bills recalls watching […]

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