What the latest student loan policies mean for you
Join a live webinar with student loan experts
Don’t struggle to navigate the world of student loans alone. Join a live webinar and Q&A, featuring Savi’s student loan experts, and learn what the latest federal repayment, forgiveness and relief program policy changes impact you.
PLUS find out what you need to do to maximize your potential benefits under these programs and how Savi can help!
The Union Plus Student Debt Navigator, powered by Savi, helps union members identify the best loan repayment and loan forgiveness options available for FREE.
Millions of borrowers are eligible for some form of government student loan forgiveness — find out if you’re one of them, today!
Your compass for navigating student loan repayment
Let’s take a look
Let’s look at your loans to see your options
Navigate
Let’s compare repayment and forgiveness plans
Get on your way
Pick a plan and get on your way to student loan freedom
Pick your plan
Savi offers three tiers of support — DIY, Essential and Pro — but any member can create an account and see their options for savings and forgiveness for FREE.
Once you are registered with Savi, you can log into your account and you’ll see an option to contact support. If you need support with your account or help upgrading contact Savi at 833-382-3175 which can be reached weekdays, 8:30 am to 7 pm ET.
We realize that sometimes you may need help with a concern about using a Union Plus program. The Union Plus Member Advocacy Program, staffed by OPEIU Local 2 members, is here to help you resolve any problems.
Contact us at 800-472-2005 (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET, weekdays) or online.
RACINE, W.Va. (WCHS) — The United Mine Workers of America held its annual picnic in Boone County on Monday. This was the 86th edition of the Labor Day gathering at John Slack Memorial Park.
The event brought out union leaders and political candidates stumping on the campaign trail.
With the upcoming election, labor unions are expected to have a prominent affect, and events like these are a way for union members to get to know candidates.
Brian Lacy, International District 17 Vice President of the UMWA, said this event is an important tradition.
“I think it’s very important to just keep labor in the forefront and not let people forget that the protections that they have today whether they’re union worker or non union worker came from the labor movement,” Lacy said.
The union goes through an endorsement process. They interview candidates to determine if they support labor and finding solutions to the issues workers face.
“We want them to be for safety on the job, for people to have rights and be able to have a safe workplace where they can come home everyday back to their family,” Lacy said.
Lacy said they also have to support well paying jobs, good healthcare, good pension benefits after retirement and people’s right to organize.
“We’ve seen efforts to undermine a lot of these hard fought battles that organized labor has and I think we need to be very mindful going forward,” U.S. Senate candidate Glenn Elliott said.
Unions have been taking larger roles in politics, because their goal is to create a balance between employers and organized labor.
Union members said engaging in politics is more important than ever now, because they say income inequality is exploding, with corporate profits at a 70 year high.
“You have to be mindful of the proud history that organized labor has in the state, of the blood and the sweat and the tears that members of organized labor have basically shed fighting for rights that sometimes we take for granted,” Elliott said.
Elliott said unions invented the middle class. Now, the union membership is down to roughly 10% of the population. He said he wants to see more people come together because it creates a stronger force, especially during an election year.
Sep. 2—MANNINGTON — The labor movement argued it is as relevant today as it has been in the past at the annual Labor Day Picnic in Mannington on Sunday.
“Today, we’re kind of looking back on the past,” Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, said. “We’re looking at our present, we’re hoping for our future here. Right here in West Virginia, it hasn’t been the best. The state has turned to the right, become more conservative. That’s not good for organized labor.”
Roberts gave the keynote speech at this year’s picnic. With the general election a little over 60 days away, labor-friendly politicians from all across the state came for their hot dogs and face time with voters. Present were candidate for governor Steve Williams and candidate for U.S. Senate Glenn Elliot, as well as Marion County candidates Joey Garcia for state senate, House of Delegates candidates Stephanie Tomana, Frankie Delapas and Rick Garcia. Also present was Belinda Biafore for Circuit Clerk. Other candidates from different counties were also present.
There is a Republican Labor Caucus. They do have a record of stopping certain anti-labor bills in the state senate and house, such as HB4840 which would have harmed mine worker safety and HB4394, which would have diminished the ability mine workers had to sue for injuries or deaths on the job. However, no one from the caucus was present.
“What’s big right now is who’s going to control Congress,” Roberts said. “Who’s going to control the Senate? Who’s going to be president of the United States? What are those people going to do when they get in office? Are people going to have an easier time joining unions or a harder time to join unions? That goes with who controls the Congress?”
The politics of pragmatism also impacted the discussion around coal mining, climate change and labor, Roberts said. While he acknowledges climate change is real, without a meaningful effort to ensure coal miners transition to jobs that pay the same as their current ones any effort to transition out of coal dependence will be doomed. Roberts said it’s unrealistic to ask people who have a good union job to jump to a lesser paying job.
Roberts also touched on health care and wages, and said a life or death situation shouldn’t hinge on where a person has a job that provides access to medical care or not.
“[Health care] is an issue that dominates negotiations within a collective bargaining agreement more than anything else,” Josh Sword, president of the West Virginia AFL-CIO said. “But it depends on what industry workers are in.”
Bill Reger-Nash, Democratic candidate for House District 82, said salaries are a big deal when discussing labor issues. He wants to see wages climb to $15 an hour for minimum wage, and supports ultimately moving to $20 an hour for workers. Even with two people bringing $15 per hour each to a household, that’s still close to the poverty level in the state. If health care has to be self funded, the cost only becomes a tremendous liability he said.
Reger-Nash makes these criticisms as a capitalist, but it’s hard to overlook the discrepancies between working people and management. He pointed to Walmart as an example of worker exploitation. Walmart is the biggest single private employer in the state. They paid a sister-in-law of his who had been an employee for 14 years $13.50 an hour.
“Then, she got COVID. She was expected to take the time off herself, the health benefits she had were non-existent. Thinks like that keep people in poverty and the UMWA, AFL-CIO do not permit the working person to be exploited like that,” Reger-Nash said.
Meanwhile, the leaders of major corporations like Walmart make obscene amounts of money, he said. Reger-Nash isn’t opposed to people making money, but he is in support of working people being treated fairly.
Candidate for House District 78 Diane Market Gaston said there’s power in numbers, which is why unions are important. Management has the money and power, the only way to counterbalance that is to be part of a big group. She said there’s cognitive dissonance between members of the working class but vote Republican.
“You want to believe you’re going to be taken care of by Big Daddy over here, but you’re not being taken care of by Big Daddy,” Market Gaston said, referring to corporations. “Big Daddy is over here breaking you apart and making this worse, but that’s a long psychological conversation as well.”
However, that’s not to say all Republicans are anti-labor. She said that should she get into office, her goal is to cross over and find Republicans who are amenable to working with her on union issues.
Of course, it wasn’t all politics. Kids tempted ducks with potato chips and the chili on the hot dogs was actually spicy for West Virginia, delightfully so. Once ice cream was available, picnic attendees enthusiastically lined up for their share.
Sword, president of the state’s AFL-CIO, said it’s his favorite weekend of the year. He said the holiday celebrates the accomplishments of working people throughout history. Despite the best efforts of business, generations of workers laid the foundation for the rights workers now enjoy, through pain, struggle and even death.
“Working people made the United States of America the greatest country on the planet,” Sword said. “We ought to celebrate our work and contribution to that.”
LOGAN — During a recent meeting, members of the Logan County Commission voted to hire outside legal counsel to handle the ongoing issue of whether county employees have the right to collectively bargain.
On Tuesday, Aug 13, with several members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) in attendance, Commission President Diana Barnette motioned to hire Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC to represent the commission in “any dealings with the UMWA.” Steptoe & Johnson is a large nationwide firm specializing in handling U.S. energy, labor and employment, litigation, and transactional law.
“Since we’ve never had any kind of experience in this kind of matter, we felt like — I feel like — that we could benefit from some outside counsel so we don’t do something wrong,” Barnette said.
Steptoe & Johnson operates a firm in Charleston and Barnette said the specific attorney working with the commission is Michael Moore. According to his official bio on Steptoe & Johnson’s website, Moore is “often tapped to represent public and private employers as they navigate high-pressure traditional labor relations matters.”
Back in November 2023, employees of the Logan County Commission voted for the UMWA to represent them to collectively bargain in an employee contract. Commissioners declined to sign onto an official UMWA resolution, with Barnette saying at the time that county employees have always been heard.
“They’ve always had a voice in the workplace,” Barnette said. “They didn’t need a union to have a voice in the workplace.”
Since that time, representatives from the UMWA have attended several different meetings of the Logan County Commission asking for updates on where negotiations with the county stand. Earlier this year, commission counsel David Wandling noted state code 18-5-45a which states that public employees in the Mountain State have “no right, statutory or otherwise, to engage in collective bargaining, mediation, or arbitration, and any work stoppage or strike by public employees is hereby declared to be unlawful.”
During the Aug. 13 meeting, some members of the UMWA were once again in attendance. William Chapman, a representative who is usually the one to come to the podium, once again asked where things were.
Wandling said he spoke with Moore, who plans to reach out to UMWA officials on the matter soon.
“I have spoken with him, along with a couple of other labor attorneys, and I feel confident that he’ll be able to work with you guys,” Barnette said.
“Once again, we will work with anybody,” Chapman said.
We’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Bob Rossi, a dedicated supporter and advocate of the United Mine Workers of America.
Bob has been a passionate member of the Marion-Polk-Yamhill Central Labor Chapter for many years and is well-known for his influential labor union blog. His writing frequently highlights the United Mine Workers and a wide range of labor issues, showcasing his unwavering commitment to the cause.
A tireless advocate, Bob is always encouraging new members to get involved with the UMWA. You can often spot him with his trusty UMWA bag, distributing leaflets to raise awareness. Currently, he is immersed in a fascinating project on the history of mine workers in 1920s Colorado, further demonstrating his dedication to preserving and promoting labor history.
Reflecting on his journey with the UMWA, Bob shared, “I believe that I owe the UMWA a great deal, perhaps for most everything I have and a better side of me. My great Aunt Celeste (Pally) gave me my first subscription to the UMW Journal when I was eleven years old. Her husband was killed in a mine in the 1930s and she was left to raise two boys in a coal patch. They became a large extended family to me.”
Join us in celebrating Bob Rossi, whose steadfast loyalty and tireless efforts continue to inspire and strengthen our community.
Access helpful tools to navigate through the car buying process and find the vehicle that’s right for you. Research top brands, compare features, read reviews, find deals and more.
New Cars – Get discounted member price offers online that includes incentives and fees.
Used Cars – Access 1 million+ pre-owned vehicles & connect with local or online dealers.
Additional Benefits – Up to $2,000* in post-sale benefits, plus, a $100 rebate** for union-made vehicles.
Have a car to sell or trade-in?
Take advantage of high used car values and see what your car’s worth. Quickly see how factors like mileage, color and options impact your car’s value and get a cash offer in minutes. Cash out or trade in for a new or used car.
Consider union-made – Select the new or used vehicle and options you want and consider a union-made vehicle. View price ratings, narrow down your preferred options, incentives and explore payment options.
Compare + get offers online – Enter your contact information and connect with a certified dealer to view inventory and get an upfront member price offer online.
Take it for a spin – Connect with a Certified Dealer via phone, email or text to answer any questions, schedule a test drive, ask about financing or vehicle delivery options.
If you’re an active or retired union member or an eligible family member, you may be able to take advantage of these exclusive mortgage benefits:
When you’re a verified union member, finance your home through the Union Plus® Mortgage Program and mention your eligibility to receive a My Mortgage GiftSM award after closing.
Select a gift or an award card for use at participating retailers – a $500 value when buying a home or $300 value for refinancing your home.
Talk to us about the Union Plus mortgage assistance program, which provides an interest-free mortgage assistance loan or grant in the event you experience an unexpected loss of income.
What your Union Plus Mortgage Program provides
Whether you’re planning to buy a new home or refinance your present one, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence. In addition to the benefits detailed above, you can also:
Obtain a fully underwritten loan approval to let sellers and real estate professionals know you’re a serious buyer.
Refinance with minimal out-of-pocket expenses when your closing costs are included in the loan amount.
Get help when you need it. Ask us about our 3% down payment option on a fixed-rate mortgage for eligible buyers.
Talk with a home mortgage consultant about loan amount, type of loan, property type, income, first-time homebuyer, and homebuyer education requirements to ensure eligibility.
Keep in mind that with a low down payment, mortgage insurance will be required, which increases the cost of the loan and will increase your monthly payment. We’ll explain the options available, so you can choose what works for you.
Tires can explode during a fire and after the fire is extinguished.
On June 14, 2024, one firefighter died, and another was injured when a front-end loader tire exploded while firefighters fought the equipment fire. MSHA released a “best practices safety alert” warning miners of tire explosions related to equipment fires.
Best Practices
In the event of a possible or actual fire (e.g., odor, heat, smoke, flames):
Stop the machine, lower all attachments, set the parking brake, and turn the equipment off.
Actuate the machine-mounted fire suppression system, if available.
Safely exit the machine and retreat to a safe location, preferably 1,000 feet away.
Warn all others in the vicinity of the fire, notify management, and contact appropriate emergency personnel.
Do not attempt to extinguish a tire fire with a hand-held extinguisher.
Wait for emergency responders to arrive. Stay clear of the fire.
From a distance, emergency personnel can use a fire or water truck to cool down the equipment. (See SAE J2828NOV2016 – Off-Road Tire Handling Guidelines.)
Wait at least 24 hours after the fire has been extinguished to allow the equipment to cool. A remote heat sensing device may assist in gauging residual heat. Elevated tire pressure lingers and is difficult to assess. Danger may remain if a fire-damaged tire is inflated, including dismounting an inflated tire from its rim.
This weekend, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) once again paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Vietnam War with their annual “Washing of the Wall” event at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. UMWA members, veterans, and supporters gathered to honor the lives lost and to commemorate the sacrifices made by countless soldiers during the conflict.
The event, led this year by UMWA International Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson, saw a significant turnout of participants dedicated to maintaining the sanctity and memory of the memorial.
“We had an amazing turnout this year,” said President Roberts. “It is an honor and a privilege to do this every year. It is the least we can do to show our support for the men who never got the chance to make it home.”
President Roberts brings a personal connection to the event, having served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 as a part of the 196 Light Infantry Brigade. He was stationed in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, providing him a deep understanding of the sacrifices honored at the Wall.
The “Washing of the Wall” event is a tradition that not only preserves the memorial’s physical appearance but also serves as a solemn reminder of the bravery and dedication of those who served in Vietnam. Participants meticulously clean the Wall, ensuring that the names etched in its granite surface remain a testament to the valor and heroism of the fallen soldiers.
International Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson echoed President Roberts’ sentiments, emphasizing the importance of remembering and honoring the sacrifices of veterans. “Our members, many of whom are veterans themselves, take great pride in participating in this event. It’s a powerful act of remembrance and respect.”
The UMWA’s commitment to this annual event highlights the union’s dedication to supporting veterans and ensuring that the legacy of those who served in Vietnam is never forgotten. The “Washing of the Wall” not only serves as a moment of reflection and tribute but also reinforces the bond between the UMWA community and the veterans they honor.
As the sun set on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial this weekend, the Wall stood clean and gleaming, a silent yet powerful symbol of remembrance, respect, and gratitude – upheld by the hands and hearts of those who gathered to pay their respects.
