News Archive - Page 2 of 61 - United Mine Workers of America

MEU launches Grosvenor explosion investigation

Source: Mining safetowork

Date: January 8, 2025

The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) is launching an investigation into the 2024 explosion that caused a month-long fire at Anglo American’s Grosvenor coal mine in Queensland.

The fire broke out on June 29, leading to the immediate evacuation and sealing of the mine until the blaze was confirmed to be stanched on July 25.

Not much is known about how the explosion that started the fire occurred. The New South Wales Resources Regulator visited a number of coal mines across the state following the outbreak at Grosvenor in a bid to understand what could potentially lead to such an event.

The new MEU investigation will aim to bring together mine safety experts from Australia and around the globe, led by MEU Queensland district industry safety and health representative (ISHR) Jason Hill and general vice president Steve Smyth.

The investigation seeks to understand how the explosion was able to take place, including which systems and procedures failed to prevent it from occurring.

“The event itself was a coal mine explosion and had the potential for the catastrophic loss of life,” Smyth said.

“This investigation ensures that the MEU leaves no stone unturned in understanding why this explosion has occurred. We owe it to our members, their families and all underground miners.”

The MEU has already taken action, analysing documentary evidence and data, including gas monitoring data, ventilation readings, inspection reports, risk assessments, hazard management plans, standard operating procedures and trigger action response plans.

Already assisting in the investigation is Grosvenor site safety and health representative Julian Barnsdale, south west district ISHR Stephen Barrett and Queensland district policy and admin officer Annika Geraghty.

The team was joined by United Mine Workers of America administrator for health and safety Josh Roberts, who provided the proceedings with an international perspective.

A site visit of Grosvenor has since been conducted, with the team inspecting surface infrastructure and gas drainage and meeting with workers who were underground at the time of the event.

Hill said the witnesses interviewed by the team gave great insight and detail into the incident.

“We are very fortunate to have a very experienced and knowledgeable investigation team,” he said.

“It’s our intention to create a final report into this investigation, it is so important to do this before the mine reopens.”

Written by: Kelsie Tibben

A Day of Reflection

Source: Herald-Standard

December 8, 2024

The thick cold air and unforgiving winds did not seem to deter the union workers and their family members who came out to pay their respects on Friday to the men who lost their lives in the Robena Mine explosion 62 years before.

“These miners sacrificed their lives for me to have it better, for us to have it better,” said Charles Knisell, the international vice president of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). “There are no words to describe the value of the sacrifices that they’ve made for us.” And while the somber outing was a reminder of a heartbreaking event that saw the death of 37 men – 31 of which belonged to the United Mine Workers of America – it also served as a reminder of the hard-fought triumphs and current struggle of organized labor.

“We have safer air to breathe, we have safer mining conditions, regulations and so forth on a daily basis because of folks like this, folks that died in Robena,” Knisell said.

On Dec. 6, 1962, at around 1:03 p.m., an underground blast at the Robena Mine killed 37 men, during a time in which no regulations were in place in coal mines. An investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a buildup of methane gas that was likely ignited by a spark from the mine equipment.

“Robena was a terrible disaster. Families couldn’t properly bury their loved ones, caskets were closed. It was a very violent disaster,” said UMWA Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson. “But some good (did) come, whether it be in the form of laws that protect our miners or just more diligence being done on behalf of miners.”

It would take another seven years, but in 1969 the federal government adopted the Federal Coal Mine and Health and Safety Act, which led to the creation of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Keynote speaker and UMWA International President Cecil Roberts reminded those in attendance that countless lives were forever affected by the explosion.

“Let’s remember the others from this tragedy,” Roberts said. “The others would be the mine rescue team that went down in that mine that day and risked their lives to try to recover their brothers from this disaster.”

Roberts also spoke about the toll it took on families, many of whom lost heads-of-households that day.

“In most cases a bread winner went out that door that day and never came back,” he said. “Somebody, mostly the widows, had to take care of the children, had to make the house payment, the car payment and feed everybody.”

Despite the backdrop of a memorial service, Roberts was able to blend a tone of respect for the dead with a hopeful message for organized labor.

“I believe that coal miners and coal miners’ families are the best people on earth,” he said. “They are ready to fight for the United States. They are ready to fight for their rights, and they’ll stand up and fight when nobody else will.”

The union president also reminded the crowd the importance of organized labor and unions as he recounted the type of conditions coal miners were subjected to before regulations.

“In those days there were no such things as black lung. Miners were dying all over this nation,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of miners died from black lung because there are no restrictions on the matter in the coal mine – until a union stood up.”

Written by: Zach Petroff

Farmington No. 9 remembered

Source: MetroNews

Date: November 18, 2024

Fifty-six years ago, Wednesday, massive explosions and fires engulfed Consolidation Coal Company’s Farmington #9 mine in Marion County. The West Virginia Encyclopedia described the scene this way: “A large cloud of black smoke and red flames spewed from the pit opening, rock and debris were catapulted from the mine.”

Twenty-one miners escaped, but another 78 men perished. Journalist Bonnie Stewart, in her 2011 book No. 9 about the disaster, wrote that somemen were killed instantly where they stood, while others suffocated. The deceased miners left behind 144 children.

Rescuers risked their lives searching through the broken coal mine to try to find survivors. After nine days, the mine was sealed, even though all the bodies had not been recovered.

According to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, the cause of the explosion was never determined. However, Stewart’s research attributed the explosion to an exhaust fan in the mine that failed, causing explosive methane gas and dust to build up in the tunnels.

One year after the explosion, searchers returned to try again to retrieve the victims, but 19 bodies were never found. They remain entombed in the shattered mine. Every year, the United Mine Workers Union holds a ceremony at Farmington #9 Memorial off of Route 250, north of Mannington. This year’s event was held yesterday with top union officials on hand.

Reports of the disaster and the images of grieving family members shocked the nation and led the federal government to address coal mine safety. In 1969, Congress passed the Federal Coal Mine Healthy and Safety Act. President Richard Nixon said at the bill signing that the legislation represented “a crucially needed step forward in the protection of America’s coal miners.”

The law toughened safety standards, increased mine inspections, authorized mine inspectors to shut down mines if life-threatening hazards were found and added protections and benefits for black lung.

The law took effect in 1970 and made an immediate impact on mine safety. The number of coal mine fatalities has dropped from 260 in 1970 to nine in 2023. Granted, there are only half as many coal miners today as there were 50 years ago, but the number of fatalities has reduced 26 fold.

By some estimates, as much as 15 billion tons of coal have been mined in West Virginia over the years. That coal fueled the greatest economic expansion in history, and it continues to be an integral part of the energy portfolio of this country and the world.

However, as the anniversary of the Farmington #9 Mine disaster reminds us, that has come with a terrible human cost.

Written By: Hoppy Kercheval

Monongalia County Commission won’t negotiate with UMWA

Source: MetroNews

Date: November 14, 2024

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission says it’s not going to negotiate with workers in the Monongalia County Assessor’s Office who recently joined the UMWA.

“West Virginia law in turn does not recognize the right of public employees to go on strike or be represented by a union for purposes of collective bargaining, mediation, or arbitration,” Commission President Sean Sikora said.

UMWA District 31 Vice President Mike “Biggin” Payton has been attending commission meetings for the last several months and said the union has no plans to walk away from the results of the secret ballot election calling for representation by the UMWA.

“The people overwhelmingly voted to be represented by a union, and we will not stop until their voices are heard,” Payton said.

Sikora cited a case from the 1990s involving the Jefferson County Board of Education vs. The Jefferson County Education Association, which is established law that makes unionizing public employees unlawful.

“From that case, public employees have no right to strike in the absence of expressed legislation or, at the very least, appropriate statutory provisions for collective bargaining and mediation,” Sikora said.

Payton believes the law being used by the commission is being misapplied to public employees and only governs public educators.

“The part of the law they’re using we believe relates to educators, public education, and teachers not being able to strike,” Payton said.

Sikora said employees can be affiliated with or support an organization but legally they cannot come between the employee-employer relationship within a government unit.

“While public employees may decide to support a public organization, that does not give that organization the right to represent those employees in collective bargaining,” Sikora said. “The commission is not willing to voluntarily give representational rights to third-party organizations when those rights are not recognized by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.”

Written By: Mike Nolting

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Source: Union Plus

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Mon Commission ‘does not and will not’ recognize union representation

Source: The Dominion Post

Date: November 13, 2024

MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission declared in no uncertain terms on Wednesday that it will not negotiate with the United Mine Workers of America.

The statement is a confirmation of the position first articulated by the body back in May and the commission’s first comment on the issue since a Sept. 26 vote in support of UMWA representation by employees of the Monongalia County Assessor’s Office.

In a letter to UMWA General Counsel Kevin Fagan and UMWA International District 31 Vice President Michael Payton, the commission reiterated its belief that third-party representation “is not in the best interest of the county, our employees or our citizens.”

In case any ambiguity remained, the letter concluded, “The commission does not and will not recognize the UMWA as the collective bargaining representative for the employees of the assessor’s office.”

The county once again pointed to West Virginia Code 18-5-45a, which reads, in part, “Public employees in West Virginia 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.”

Commission President Sean Sikora read the letter aloud. Payton was among the UMWA representatives in attendance.

Sikora noted the code section cited is based on the West Virginia Supreme Court ruling in Jefferson County Board of Education v. Jefferson County Education Association (1990).

The commission’s letter further stated, “While public employees may decide to support an organization, that does not give that organization the right to represent public employees for the purposes of collective bargaining. The commission is not willing to voluntarily give representational rights to third-party organizations when those rights are not expressly provided by the statute of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.”

Following the meeting, Payton recalled his Oct. 30 comments claiming the commission was waiting until after the Nov. 5 election to declare its position.

The union endorsed Republican MaryAnn Folz in her run against Democrat incumbent Tom Bloom. Bloom defeated Folz 21,595 to 18,213 to claim a third six-year term.

“It’s exactly what I told you and what we predicted. We’ve been open and honest and up front from the beginning that eventually they would just have to say they’re anti-union and anti-worker,” he said.

Payton says the laws being cited pertain to public education and that the commission could choose to honor the wishes of the employees in the assessor’s office.

“You know they’re hiding behind the law, and they were hiding until after the election to help their good old boy stay in office,” he said. “I truly don’t know what to say from here, but I can tell you that we will not stop until their voices are heard. We’re not going away. This is not the end of it.”

In other county news, Internet service providers Comcast, Frontier and Prodigi have responded to a request for proposals for a broadband project aimed at filling in the holes left after a $17.8 million broadband expansion effort currently underway between the commission and Comcast.

The commission is putting its remaining $1.25 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars into this smaller, secondary project.

It put $5.98 million in ARPA funds into the larger broadband plan, which is expected to connect 2,175 unserved and underserved homes and businesses in all parts of the county over the next two years. Design of that project is expected by the end of 2024.

ARPA funds must be obligated by Dec. 31.

Lastly, the commission adjusted its holiday schedule, canceling its Nov. 27 meeting and moving its Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 meetings forward to Dec. 23 and Dec. 30.

Associate Membership Spotlight

Debbie Woods

The September/October issue of the journal proudly features Debbie Woods as its Associate Membership Spotlight. Debbie, the wife of Local Union 1304 member Mel Woods from District 31, has been a dedicated UMWA Associate Member since 2019. Her commitment goes far beyond just attending local union and COMPAC meetings; Debbie’s presence is felt in every corner of the union’s activities.

“Anyone who has ever attended the annual Willow Grove Memorial knows the impact Debbie Woods has had on our union,” said International District 31 Vice President Mike “Biggin” Payton. “She, Mel, and others played a pivotal role in revitalizing the memorial site, ensuring it remains a powerful tribute to our history.”

Earlier this year, Debbie’s dedication took center stage as she played a key role in producing a documentary on the Willow Grove Mine Explosion, a tragedy that deeply affected the community. Her passion for the union’s mission doesn’t stop there—Debbie has been on the front lines, boarding buses to Capitol Hill, lobbying tirelessly for the rights and safety of miners.

“Debbie has lobbied on Capitol Hill just as much, if not more, than the rest of us,” said International Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson. “She’s always there, ready to lend a hand and support her UMWA brothers and sisters in any way she can. Debbie Woods is a cornerstone of our union, embodying the spirit of solidarity and dedication that defines us all.”

“Our Associate Members play a vital role in the strength and unity of the UMWA. Their contributions often go unrecognized, but they are essential to the success of our union,” said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. “It’s important that we spotlight their efforts because they make a tremendous difference in everything we do. We are deeply thankful for their dedication, and Debbie Woods exemplifies the kind of commitment that keeps our union moving forward. Her work honors our past and helps build a better future for all our members.”

As we look ahead, the Journal is already working on next year’s Associate Membership Spotlights. If you would like to nominate someone who has made a significant impact, please visit our website at https://umwa.org/associate-member-spotlight/ and complete the nomination form! Your input is invaluable in helping us recognize those who make a difference.

UMWA To Recruit, Train Workers for West Virginia Facility

Source: The Intelligencer

Date: October 30, 2024

The United Mine Workers of America Career Centers in the Greene County community of Ruff Creek will be recruiting and training workers for a manufacturing facility near Morgantown, W.Va., that will be used for lithium iron phosphate raw material production, it was announced Tuesday.

The facility, in Bridgeport, W.Va., had been a glass manufacturer but closed in 2017. It is expected to employ about 75 people and begin operation in early 2026, according to Sanjiv Malhotra, the CEO and founder of Sparkz, the battery manufacturer that will be taking over the facility.

The worker training that will happen at the career center is the result of an agreement between the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) and Sparkz, which they say will help workers who have been displaced from jobs in a shrinking coal industry gain new skills and find new employment.

Cecil Roberts, president of the UMWA, was on hand for the announcement, and said, “These jobs are not a threat to the coal industry. These are jobs that coal miners can have.”

He added, “Every job we create in the U.S. is better than a job in China. … They’re going into an empty building. That building used to have people in it making glass.”

Training of potential workers will not begin at the UMWA Career Centers until a definite opening date is scheduled for the facility, according to Erin Bates, communications director for the UMWA. If it does, in fact, open in early 2026, Bates explained, the center will start its training in the fall of 2025.

A list of displaced coal industry workers they will contact to determine their interest has been assembled, according to Bates.

“There’s quite a bit of work before we can start physically training the workers,” she said.

The U.S. Department of Energy has infused almost $10 million into the venture, and Ali Zaidi, the White House climate adviser and an Edinboro native, was present for the announcement. He noted America’s status as an innovator and leader in technology, and explained, “We have to reinvest in the source of strength that brought us this far.”

The facility in Bridgeport had been operated by Asahi, a Japanese glass manufacturer, before it was shuttered.

“We’re very thankful that we have the UMWA as a partner,” Malhotra said. Sparkz is based in Livermore, Calif.

Lithium iron phosphate is used in rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles, and the UMWA said the facility will help fortify the United States’ clean energy supply chain.

“A lot of money has flowed from Washington, D.C., to rural parts of (West Virginia),” Roberts said. “That’s a good thing. This is not pork. This is an opportunity, and we would not have this opportunity unless we have friends in Washington, D.C.”

The UMWA Career Centers first opened in 1996, and provides training in such areas as commercial truck driving, cybersecurity, diesel mechanics and mechatronics, which combines mechanical, electric, electronic and software engineering.

Written by: Brad Hundt

SPARKZ, UMWA prepare for high-tech manufacturing partnership

Source: MetroNews

Date: October 30, 2024

PROSPERITY, Pa. — SPARKZ, an upstart battery manufacturing company, and the United Mine Workers of America celebrated a $9.8 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to start manufacturing operations in West Virginia.

By next year, the closed facility in Taylor County outside Bridgeport on U.S. Route 50 is expected to be producing the materials for the production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery materials and become a partner facility to the SPARKZ facility recently opened in Sacramento, California. The company recently announced a $280 million deal with light mobility vehicle manufacturer Ryvid to supply batteries and technology over the next five years.

“They are basically the two peas in a pod,” CEO and President Sanjiv Malhotra said. “The Sacramento facility is going to be using the material that is produced here in West Virginia, and yes, we have some very solid contracts.”

When both plants are fully operational, the internal battery materials will be manufactured in Taylor County, and final assembly will be completed at the Sacramento facility. Malhorta said they have targeted a wide swathe of the electric vehicle market and expect to employ up to 75 at the West Virginia facility.

“We are targeting all three markets—EVs, commercial and off-road vehicles, and energy storage,” Malhotra said. “So, this facility in West Virginia is going to add a lot of value.”

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries are larger, heavier, take longer to charge, and are more costly. Additionally, lithium-ion batteries have less impact on the environment and have a longer operating window.

“It does not nickel or cobalt,” Malhorta said.” It uses lithium, iron, and phosphate, and all three are 100 percent sourced here in the United States.”

Lithium-ion batteries are more efficient and must be replaced less often, offering another positive environmental impact. The lithium option was also adopted by Tesla in 2021 to be used in their standard-range EV products.

“Just to put this into perspective, NiCd has a life of 1,500 cycles, whereas the LMC that we are producing is going to have a life of 5,000 cycles,” Malhorta said.

The UMWA and SPARKZ have entered into a labor-management agreement that includes recruiting and training the workers in Taylor County. The recruiting and training will be done from the UMWA Career Center in Prosperity, Pennsylvania.

“Recruiting displaced coal mine workers, they will be providing training at their training facility,” Malhorta said. “The final training will be done at our Taylor County facility on our equipment.”

Written by: Mike Nolting

UMWA Career Centers will be used for recruiting, training workers for W. Va. manufacturing facility

Source: Observer – Reporter

Date: October, 30, 2024

RUFF CREEK – The United Mine Workers of America Career Centers in Ruff Creek will be recruiting and training workers for a manufacturing facility near Morgantown, W.Va., that will be used for lithium iron phosphate raw material production, it was announced Tuesday.

Cecil Roberts, president of the UMWA, was on hand for the announcement, and said, “These jobs are not a threat to the coal industry. These are jobs that coal miners can have.”

He added, “Every job we create in the U.S. is better than a job in China. … They’re going into an empty building. That building used to have people in it making glass.”

A list of displaced coal industry workers they will contact to determine their interest has been assembled, according to Bates.

“There’s quite a bit of work before we can start physically training the workers,” she said.

The facility in Bridgeport had been operated by Asahi, a Japanese glass manufacturer, before it was shuttered.

“We’re very thankful that we have the UMWA as a partner,” Malhotra said. Sparkz is based in Livermore, Calif.

Lithium iron phosphate is used in rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles, and the UMWA said the facility will help fortify the United States’ clean energy supply chain.

Written by: Brad Hundt