Press Release Archive - United Mine Workers of America

UMWA, USW Fight to Uphold Life-Saving Silica Protections for America’s Miners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 14, 2025

UMWA, USW Fight to Uphold Life-Saving Silica Protections for America’s Miners

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), joined by the United Steelworkers (USW), filed a motion in federal court today to intervene in the ongoing administrative review proceeding concerning the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) defense of the Silica Rule, which is crucial for the health and safety of UMWA members and the nation’s miners.

“Our mission has always been to protect the health, safety, and dignity of those who do the hardest work in America’s mines,” said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. “If we don’t stand up now, we risk condemning a new generation of miners to the same suffering that past generations endured. That is not a future we are willing to accept.”

The unions’ intervention is warranted by MSHA’s decision to hold enforcement of the rule in abeyance until August, according to the motion filed today. “The sudden shift in litigation position signaled by MSHA’s “enforcement pause,” and by its unilateral proposal to hold this case in abeyance for a period of four months is a clarion call to this nation’s miners that the Agency charged with the profound responsibility of protecting their health and safety is losing the stomach for the fight to vindicate its own rule,” the UMWA and USW argued.

“As long as miners continue to work beneath the earth, we will continue to fight for their safety on the job,” International Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson said. “No job should come with a death sentence.”

The Silica Rule provides essential workplace protections against respirable silica dust, a significant hazard faced by miners today. Without these protections, UMWA members face increased exposure to this dangerous substance, which is the leading cause of serious respiratory illnesses among miners, particularly affecting young and early-career workers. The potential loss of the Silica Rule could lead to debilitating respiratory conditions, including silicosis and coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, as well as premature deaths and lifelong disabilities.

Click here to view a copy of the motion.

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UMWA appreciates Executive Order

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 9, 2025

UMWA appreciates Executive Order

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on President Trump’s Executive Order signed yesterday to revitalize the coal industry, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“We are appreciative of the President’s initiative and his recognition of the critical role coal miners have played—and continue to play—in powering our nation.

“This executive action represents a welcome and much-needed step forward for our members and their communities. We believe it will help maintain coal miners’ jobs for several years to come and can offer a meaningful short-term solution to the decline in coal employment.

“We also believe that sustaining these jobs into the future requires further action. We strongly encourage the administration to look ahead and develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy for the coal industry—one that includes robust support for research, innovation, and technological advancement.

“Coal miners and their communities need more than a temporary reprieve. We want coal workers to have good, stable jobs not just for the next four years, but for the next forty. That future must be built with sustainable policy, investment in new technologies like carbon capture and storage, and support for the economic diversification of coal-producing regions.

“The UMWA stands ready to work with the administration to secure a lasting future for our members and their families.”

Fifteen Years After Upper Big Branch: A Tragedy We Must Not Repeat

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April 4, 2025

Fifteen Years After Upper Big Branch: A Tragedy We Must Not Repeat

April 5, 2025, marks fifteen years since the tragic explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, where 29 brave miners lost their lives. Today, we honor their memory, we grieve with their families, and we recommit ourselves to the fight for stronger protections for all miners.

The Upper Big Branch disaster was not an unavoidable accident, it was a preventable catastrophe caused by a failure to prioritize safety over profit. Investigations revealed a pattern of willful safety violations, highlighting the importance of strong enforcement by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Yet today, the very agency tasked with protecting America’s miners faces an existential threat. The looming closure of MSHA offices across the country would roll back decades of progress in mine safety and health. Without MSHA’s presence in the field, violations will go unchecked, hazards will grow, and the risk of another disaster like Upper Big Branch will increase.

That is why we are thankful Ranking Member Bobby Scott and Senator Tim Kaine will next week reintroduce the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act for the 119th Congress. This legislation is a crucial step toward ensuring that MSHA has the resources and authority to do its job—protecting miners’ lives. The bill would strengthen enforcement, increase penalties for safety violations, and hold bad actors accountable, addressing the very failures that led to the Upper Big Branch disaster.

The hardworking men and women who power our nation’s industries deserve workplaces that do not put their lives at risk. We cannot allow history to repeat itself by weakening the very protections that miners and their families rely on. The United Mine Workers urge lawmakers and regulatory agencies to maintain and strengthen MSHA’s role in protecting America’s miners, not diminish it.

As we remember the 29 lives lost on April 5, 2010, let us also renew our commitment to ensuring that no miner ever has to face the same fate. Their sacrifice must not be in vain. Safety must always come first.

Is There Now a War on Coal Miners?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 1, 2025

Is There Now a War on Coal Miners?

MSHA offices closing, NIOSH lay-offs and USTR Section 301 proposals threaten jobs, health and safety of American miners

[TRIANGLE, VA] Commenting on recent actions by elements of the Trump administration to make American coal uncompetitive and threaten the health and safety of American miners, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“There is a perfect storm brewing in America’s coalfields that will have the effect of destroying thousands of coal miners’ jobs and significantly increase the risks those miners who are left will face to their health and safety on the job.

“First, the Government Services Administration announced the potential closure of up to 34 MSHA offices around the country with no provisions as to how the agency will be able to continue its mission of keeping miners safe on the job. From what we have learned, MSHA personnel still have no idea if or when they will be moving to a new location or even if they will have a job any longer.

“Second, the USTR announced a proposal to impose up to $1.5 million in fees on Chinese-made ships that enter U.S. ports to take on materials – including coal – that is produced in the United States and exported around the world. More than one-quarter of coal produced in this country is exported.

“This proposal is designed to help rebuild the American shipbuilding industry over years, and we support that principle. But today, most exported U.S. coal is carried on Chinese-made ships. This proposal will add such significant costs to exported coal as to make it uncompetitive in the global marketplace. Mines will close and thousands will be laid off – and soon.

“And just today, at the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services, NIOSH began laying off hundreds of workers who are engaged in research and the improvement of products and practices that literally save the lives of coal miners every day. The announced significant downsizing of offices in Morgantown, W.Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., are particularly devastating to the coal industry, which relies on the research done there to improve its safety practices.

“I do not think that these actions are being done in a coordinated way to hurt the American coal industry and those who work in it. But that is the effect. Miners have and can continue to produce the materials to power American homes, produce American steel and so many other products our society uses every day. They deserve answers from the administration as to why it appears there is now a target on their backs.”

UMWA Denounces Lack of Veteran’s Health Care Funding, Calls for Reversal of Proposed VA Job Cuts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 31, 2025

UMWA Denounces Lack of Veteran’s Health Care Funding, Calls for Reversal of Proposed VA Job Cuts

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today expressing deep frustration over the failure of the latest continuing resolution to include critical funding for veterans’ health care.

“As a Vietnam veteran, I have witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by those who have worn our nation’s uniform. Like many of my fellow veterans, I live with service-related health issues. But countless others lack access to the critical healthcare they need to survive. Cutting essential funding for these heroes is inexcusable. They served our country—now it’s our country’s duty to serve them.”

“This travesty is compounded by the Department of Government Expenditures (DOGE) proposal to cut 80,000 jobs from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This would be catastrophic. Cutting VA jobs means longer wait times, fewer resources, and reduced care for the very people who put everything on the line for this country. This decision would be detrimental to the well-being of those who have already sacrificed so much.

“I am calling on the administration and Congress to reconsider their positions regarding veterans. Our veterans upheld their oath to serve this nation, now this nation must uphold its commitment to them. The UMWA remains steadfast in its support for American veterans and urges lawmakers to prioritize funding and resources to ensure they receive the care they have rightfully earned.”

United Mine Workers of America Applauds Saskatchewan’s Removal of Carbon Tax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 28, 2025

United Mine Workers of America Applauds Saskatchewan’s Removal of Carbon Tax

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on the Government of Saskatchewan’s recent decision to eliminate the industrial carbon tax within the province, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The UMWA appreciates the Government of Saskatchewan’s leadership in standing up for working families by removing the industrial carbon tax. This tax has unfairly targeted coal miners and their communities, making it nearly impossible for coal-fired power generation to compete. The tax was effectively a death sentence for the industry, threatening thousands of livelihoods and jeopardizing energy security in the region.

“We have been vocal about the devastating impact that premature coal shutdowns would have on workers and their families. Saskatchewan’s previous plan to phase out coal by 2030, driven largely by the industrial carbon tax, would have put countless hardworking men and women out of jobs. By taking this step, the province is ensuring that coal remains a viable energy source while providing much-needed economic stability for coal-producing regions.

“The UMWA is grateful that the Saskatchewan government has listened to our concerns and taken action to protect miners, power plant workers, and the industries that rely on them. We remain committed to advocating for a fair and responsible energy transition that prioritizes good-paying jobs and a future that works for everyone.”

The United Mine Workers of America will continue working with policymakers in Canada to ensure that energy policies strike a balance between environmental responsibility and economic sustainability. Saskatchewan’s decision sets a precedent that other provinces should consider, demonstrating that it is possible to support working families while maintaining a diverse energy portfolio.

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Closing MSHA offices could be a recipe for disaster

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 7, 2025

Closing MSHA offices could be a recipe for disaster

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on the recent posting by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) listing the closure of offices of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The UMWA is very troubled by the announced closures of dozens of MSHA offices around the nation. The work MSHA inspectors and administrative staff do is critical in keeping miners safe at work, and ensuring they return to their families at the end of each shift.

“It is still not clear to us if all of these offices will actually close, or if the workers there are simply being shifted to other locations. We have not heard of any reductions in force at MSHA as of yet, although if recent events elsewhere in the government are any guide that is to be expected, unfortunately.

“We have always said that the safety of workers depends on three things: First, an employer that follows the law; Second, a government that enforces the law; and Third, a workforce that is empowered to speak up for itself through a union.

“We will continue to do all we can to keep miners safe where we represent the workforce. But in the absence of a union and the absence of strong government enforcement, workers’ safety will be left solely in the hands of employers. History has shown us time and time again that doing so is a recipe for disaster, especially in the mining industry.

“It is important to remember that before 1969 there was no law protecting miners at work, and thousands died in mines every year. We have good laws today, but if the government does not enforce them then we are back to the days of no workplace safety laws at all. That puts miners at great risk. We urge the administration to keep this in mind and keep worker safety as its top priority moving forward.”

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UMWA statement on WV State of the State

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

UMWA statement on WV State of the State

[CHARLESTON, W. Va.] Commenting on the State of the State address delivered by Gov. Patrick Morrisey last night, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“We welcome the Governor’s goal of making West Virginia into America’s ‘Energy State.’ Indeed, the UMWA has called for that for many years. Our state is blessed with an abundance of natural resources that, used in a responsible way, can drive our nation’s energy dominance for decades to come.

“We also echo the Governor’s call to explore innovative ways to reduce regulation to make our energy development become more productive, as long as it does not come at the expense of workers’ safety or the degradation of our communities. Workers and their families have borne the brunt of unsafe workplaces and devastated communities for too long. If we are to have a new day in West Virginia, it needs to start with uplifting working people.

“We stand ready to work with anyone to develop strategies to strengthen the coal industry while ensuring that coal miners are paid good wages, have good health care benefits and are safe and healthy on the job. We also look forward to positive solutions that benefit workers throughout our state who have been impacted by the unsustainable rising costs of PEIA.

“We urge the Governor to address the shortfalls in lagging wages of our public employees compared to all our neighboring states. Bringing West Virginia to victory in his “Backyard Brawl” with our border states will require driving up wages and benefits to make West Virginia competitive in workforce participation and development.”

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UMWA mourns those lost in DC airline disaster

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2025

UMWA mourns those lost in DC airline disaster

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on the January 29 airline disaster that caused the loss of 67 lives near Reagan National Airport, 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 families, friends and colleagues of those lost in the Potomac River in that terrible tragedy last Wednesday evening. We join with all Americans in expressing our deepest sympathies to the victims’ loved ones.

“We also stand ready to assist our brother and sister unions who lost members in this tragedy. We unfortunately have too much experience in that regard and know what a blow this is to those organizations.”

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UMWA mourns passing of President Jimmy Carter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 30, 2024

UMWA mourns passing of President Jimmy Carter

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Commenting on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil Roberts issued the following statement today:

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of President Jimmy Carter yesterday. While not the most pro-labor President of my lifetime, he was the most pro-coal President I have ever seen. The UMWA gained thousands of members during his term in office as he pursued energy policies that included greater coal utilization.

“He also invoked the Taft-Hartley Act when the UMWA went on strike in 1977. That did not win him any friends in the labor movement at the time, but the truth is miners largely ignored his order to return to work and we won our strike.

“After his time in office, Jimmy Carter set himself on a path never taken by any other former President. He didn’t go on the lecture circuit; he didn’t charge tens of thousands of dollars to make a speech. His abiding faith in God and the teachings of the Bible led him to be a powerful voice for peace and helping the less fortunate. His work for Habitat for Humanity is legendary and was an inspiration to millions.

“As we confront the challenges before us today, we can learn something from how Jimmy Carter lived his life after his White House years. When we treat others with kindness and respect, when we seek a peaceful end to conflict, when we look for solutions that embrace all people, we become a better society. These are lessons we must not forget.”