Archives: Press Release

This is for all Press Releases

Striking Warrior Met Workers Have Support of Entire Labor Movement

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2022

Contact: Carolyn Bobb, cbobb@aflcio.org  or 202-637-5018

 

Striking Warrior Met Workers Have Support of Entire Labor Movement 

 

Statement from the AFL-CIO Executive Council on the Mine Workers (UMWA) strike against Warrior Met Coal in Alabama:

As we approach the one-year strike anniversary, the brave and dedicated workers at Warrior Met, who have made the company millions in profits, continue their fight for a fair contract. The workers and families at Warrior Met made major sacrifices to save the company, even as executives took bonuses. The miners gave up wages, health care benefits, pensions and more to allow Warrior Met Coal to emerge from bankruptcy in 2016.

Since then Warrior Met has been extremely profitable, paying shareholders $852 million in dividends, paying a special cash dividend of $190 million and compensating CEO Walter Scheller with more than $17 million.

Yet the rank-and-file workers have struggled to make ends meet. Since the bankruptcy, Warrior Met Coal has: cut the hourly wages of the miners by more than 20%; replaced the defined-benefit pension plan with a 401(k) plan; shifted health care costs onto active employees; cut the health care benefits of 2,500 retirees; and told the miners to work up to 16-hour shifts with few days off and only three paid holidays a year that can be taken only on the days they actually occur.

Every day, UMWA members are out on the strike line fighting for the livelihoods of their families and communities. This strike is about respect, dignity and the fundamental rights of working people. This strike is also about communities. UMWA miners support every local shop, store, restaurant and small business, as well as the people who make those businesses run. UMWA members are the community.

We want companies like Warrior Met to be successful, but not without fairness or valuing the most important part of the equation—working people. Our strength is our solidarity. The 12.5 million members of the AFL-CIO offer our unwavering support to the striking workers. #WeAreOne, and will always have their backs.

 

###

 

Legislation to Protect Worker Health Care During Strikes a Necessity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 7, 2022

 

Legislation to Protect Worker Health Care During Strikes a Necessity

[TRIANGLE, VA] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“I applaud Sens. Sharred Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) and all co-sponsors for introducing the Striking Workers Healthcare Protection Act., which would require employers to continue to provide health insurance coverage for striking workers and their families.

“UMWA miners on strike at Warrior Met Coal had their company-provided health insurance cut off April 1 of last year. Even though Warrior Met used this tactic as a way to discourage the workers from exercising their right to strike, it didn’t work. The UMWA immediately picked up their coverage, so that not a single worker or his or her family was without health insurance.

“The UMWA has spent more than $5.1 million in health insurance coverage for the striking miners and their families. That is on top of the $15.5 million paid for strike benefits.

“These miners have been fighting for a fair contract for almost a year now, if it wasn’t for the union, they and their families would be faced with the terrible choice of either medical care or fighting for what they deserve. I salute the legislators who are taking a stand in both the Senate and the House against these unfair corporate tactics.”

 

 

 

Note: Companion legislation, H.R. 6557, was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03).

UMWA Supports Bipartisan Bill to Ban Russian Energy Imports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 4, 2022

 

UMWA Supports Bipartisan Bill to Ban Russian Energy Imports

 

[TRIANGLE, VA] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today announced their support of legislation introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Ak.) to ban fossil fuel energy imports into the United States from Russia.

The Ban Russians Energy Imports Act, released yesterday, would prohibit imports of coal, crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas from Russia. The United States imported over half a million barrels of oil per day from Russia in 2021.

“The blood of innocent Ukrainians is on that oil, gas and coal”, said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. “The United States should not be in any way funding this war by continuing to buy Russian exports. We should be focusing on using what this nation has to offer when it comes to energy sources. I applaud Senators Manchin, Murkowski, and the other cosponsors of this bill for their bold action. We are in full support.

“We also need to start manufacturing products that use coal in the U.S.,” Roberts said. “Right now, we ship millions of tons of metallurgical coal to China, which they in turn use to make steel and fabricate it into wind turbines and solar panels. They then ship those products back here. How does that make sense?

“Let’s put less focus on relying on other countries to provide our resources and look at what our own nation provides,” Roberts said. “Let’s stop supporting anti-democratic regimes and tyrants and focus on using the resources we have right in our own backyard.”

###

UMWA Keeps West Virginia Miners Safe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 3, 2022

 

UMWA Keeps West Virginia Miners Safe

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“Yesterday was a big win for West Virginia miners as HB 4840 did not make it through the House of Delegates.

“The bill would have eliminated the West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training ability to enforce necessary safety laws put into place to protect the lives of miners in our state.

“UMWA miners filled the halls of the Capitol building, letting legislators know how critical it is to keep West Virginia’s mining enforcement laws intact.

“Their voices were heard loud and clear and I could not be prouder of what they accomplished.

 

###

UMWA opposes West Virginia legislation reducing health and safety in coal mines

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 1, 2022

 

UMWA opposes West Virginia legislation reducing health and safety in coal mines

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The idea that anyone in the state of West Virginia believes we need less enforcement in the coal mining industry is outrageous.

“But House Bill 4840 would do just that, by eliminating the ability of the West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training (WVOMHST) inspectors to actually enforce our state’s safety laws.

“I cannot understand why any responsible legislator would believe the outright elimination of an entire state agency’s enforcement power would keep miners safer at work.

“Last year, West Virginia alone accounted for 50% of all coal mine fatalities in America. Just this morning, we received a call that a miner in southern West Virginia, with twenty years of experience, died in a mining accident.

“The first agency on the scene this morning was not MSHA, it was the state. The state inspectors arrived on-site almost an hour before MSHA was able to get there.

“So, to say we need less protection from the state, less safety and less enforcement in the coal mining industry makes zero sense.

“This bill would remove the state agency’s ability to properly investigate an incident. Statistics show that when you have good laws and regulations, and they are enforced, fatalities decrease. That is where we need to be headed.

“This is a bad bill and will put West Virginia miners’ lives at risk.

#KeepWVMinesSafe

###

Congress Must Act Now to Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 21, 2021

 

Congress Must Act Now to Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The right to vote is essential to ensure a strong democracy within the United States, however, state after state is encouraging discriminatory legislation to restrict citizens’ access to voting.

“Restricting voting rights wipes away 60 years of progress our nation has made to expand these rights. It is unamerican and outright wrong to prevent anyone in our society from having a voice in the election process.

“Congress needs to act and act soon. Pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.”

 

A Dream Not Yet Fulfilled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 16, 2021

 

A Dream Not Yet Fulfilled

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“Today, the nation comes together to honor a man who believed in fairness and equality for all Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to fighting injustice. Unfortunately, too little has changed in American workplaces over the last sixty years. We still find ourselves fighting for critical protections workers need on the job.

“Dr. King believed, ‘The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’ Time and time again I have sat in front of Congress demanding that ending Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis, or Black Lung, be at the forefront of their conversations.

“In June 2019, I testified before the United States House of Representatives subcommittee on Workforce Protections on the resurgence of Black Lung cases. Yet here we stand today, once again faced with Congress’ failure to protect the very people who put them in office.

“Congress needs to act to ensure long-term funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. By letting the enhanced levels of Black Lung Excise Taxes expire at the end of 2021, Congress is once again putting corporate interests first and American workers second.

“Dr. King also stated ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Here, too, our government can do better.

“State after state is enacting laws that restrict access to voting. Congress must pass legislation to protect every American’s right to vote in free and fair elections.

“Congress must restore the right to organize and put an end to ‘right to work’ laws. We must change corrupt bankruptcy laws that put workers last. We must stop scabs from stealing jobs from skilled workers who are fighting for their livelihood, like the UMWA miners in their tenth month on strike at Warrior Met Coal in Alabama.

“Dr. King reminded us that, ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’ Now is the time for Congress to do what is right and ensure that American workers, families, and their communities come first.”

###

 

UMWA Mourns Loss of Ohio County Prep Plant Construction Worker

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 14, 2022

UMWA Mourns Loss of Ohio County Prep Plant Construction Worker

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The hearts and prayers of every UMWA member are with the family of Jeffrey Phillips, who was killed in an accident today at the Ohio County Prep Plant in Benwood, W. Va.

“Brother Phillips was a member of UMWA Construction Local Union 1998. He was 44 years old.

“Our safety experts are on the scene and are working with the UMWA Local Union 1473 Safety Committee, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, the West Virginia Office of Miners Health, Safety and Training, and the company to find out what caused this tragedy.

“Operations at the mine and plant have been shut down after the accident and will be suspended while the investigation continues.

“This is the third coal mine fatality of 2022 and the first UMWA worker to be killed on the job since December 19, 2019.

“We are truly saddened by the death of Brother Phillips and we will not rest until we know the circumstances of his death so that we can prevent something like this from ever happening again.

“I ask that we all lift up the Phillips’ family in our prayers.”

# # #

The lesson of January 6: We must always be ready to defend democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 6, 2022

 

The lesson of January 6: We must always be ready to defend democracy

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

​“The terrible images of January 6, 2021 are still seared in the minds of Americans as a reminder of what can happen when politicians refuse to accept the outcome of free and fair elections and instead attempt to stay in power by any means they can use.

“At the end of that day, however, democracy prevailed and a majority in Congress did their duty to affirm the clear decision of the American people.

“But in the year since, legislatures in state after state have made it harder for all citizens to vote and easier for political hacks of one party or another to deny a democratic outcome of an election that they do not like.

“These actions are a direct attack on American freedom, and Congress must not let them stand.

“It has the power to ensure that every eligible voter is able to cast a ballot and that their vote be counted, without fear of it being thrown out at the whim of some political crony.

“Millions of Americans, including myself, have served our nation on battlefields all over the world.

“We swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

“Members of Congress swore to do the same, and I call on them to remember the lessons of January 6, 2021 and take whatever actions they must to defend our Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees. Pass the Freedom to Vote Act.”

###

UMWA statement on Build Back Better legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 20, 2021

 

UMWA statement on Build Back Better legislation

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The United Mine Workers and Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) have a long and friendly relationship. We remain grateful for his hard work to preserve the pensions and health care of our retirees across the nation, including thousands in West Virginia. He has been at our side as we have worked to preserve coal miners’ jobs in a changing energy marketplace, and we appreciate that very much.

“The Build Back Better (BBB) legislation includes several items that we believe are important for our members and their communities – some of which are part of the UMWA’s Principles for Energy Transition we laid out last spring.

“The bill includes language that would extend the current fee paid by coal companies to fund benefits received by victims of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or Black Lung. But now that fee will be cut in half, further shifting the burden of paying these benefits away from the coal companies and on to taxpayers.

“The bill includes language that will provide tax incentives to encourage manufacturers to build facilities in the coalfields that would employ thousands of coal miners who have lost their jobs. We support that and are ready to help supply those plants with a trained, professional workforce. But now the potential for those jobs is significantly threatened.

“The bill includes language that would, for the first time, financially penalize outlaw employers that deny workers their rights to form a union on the job. This language is critical to any long-term ability to restore the right to organize in America in the face of ramped-up union-busting by employers. But now there is no path forward for millions of workers to exercise their rights at work.

“For those and other reasons, we are disappointed that the bill will not pass. We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition to this legislation and work with his colleagues to pass something that will help keep coal miners working, and have a meaningful impact on our members, their families, and their communities.

“I also want to reiterate our support for the passage of voting rights legislation as soon as possible, and strongly encourage Senator Manchin and every other Senator to be prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish that. Anti-democracy legislators and their allies are working every day to roll back the right to vote in America. Failure by the Senate to stand up to that is unacceptable and a dereliction of their duty to the Constitution.”

###