Press Release Archive - Page 16 of 29 - United Mine Workers of America

UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts Urges Congress to Pass Legislation that Maintains and Restores Airline Industry Jobs

October 8, 2020

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the active and retired members of the United Mine Workers of America, I urge you to pass legislation that restores the Payroll Support Program to maintain and restore airline industry jobs.

The UMWA supports the passage of a larger bill that provides the relief all Americans desperately need as this pandemic continues. But while discussions on such legislation continue, Congress must grasp the opportunity to provide the relief hundreds of thousands of airline workers need right now. Just because we cannot provide all workers the help they need at this moment should not mean that we will deny relief to airline workers, especially when both parties agree it should be done.

There is legislation before the House right now that will reverse the furloughs that are already happening and prevent the further avalanche of lost airline jobs that is coming in the next few days. I urge you to demand that this legislation be taken up in the House without delay, pass it and send it to the Senate.

Thank you for you attention to this matter. If you have any questions or concerns about this please do not hesitate to contact the UMWA’s Legislative Director, Phil Smith, at psmith@umwa.org

Sincerely,

Cecil E. Roberts

Click here to read the full letter.

The Passing of Brother Knisell

September 28, 2020

The entire UMWA family mourns the passing of not only a leader and dedicated member of the union, but a friend, a confidant, a veteran, father and husband. Brother Larry Knisell passed away Monday, September 28, 2020.

Brother Knisell was a former District Representative and a member of Local Union 1570 in District 31. He was an avid UMWA supporter and member of our Pensioner Leadership Committee.

We could always count on him to fight for the members of the UMWA. He was even willing to sacrifice his freedom in 2013 , when he was arrested in the streets of St. Louis fighting for the pensions and health care of retiree UMWA miners.

Larry was also a proud United States Navy and Vietnam veteran serving on the USS Joseph Strauss.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the Knisell family. He will be sadly missed.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made in Larry’s name to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250, or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105.

Brother Larry Knisell sitting with UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts and other members of the UMWA International Executive Board on the streets of St. Louis at the 2013 UMWA Pension Rally.

Brother Larry Knisell being arrested in St. Louis after rallying to preserve health care and pensions for retired coal miners and their families.

District 2 Vice President Chuck Knisell being sworn in by his father, Brother Larry Knisell, at the 2018 UMWA Inauguration in Morgantown, West Virginia.

UMWA issues Remington bankruptcy update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 28, 2020

UMWA issues Remington bankruptcy update

[TRIANGLE, VA.] As the Remington Arms bankruptcy sale process heads to completion in Alabama, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“Publicly available documents filed over the weekend with the Bankruptcy Court indicate that there could be a successful bidder for certain assets of Remington that would include the Ilion, N.Y., plant, and that bidder would agree to keep the plant open. This is, of course, subject to a final decision by the Court.

“Our goal throughout this process has always been to keep that plant open and our members working. That appears to be on track, at least to this point. The UMWA has been in talks with that bidder about our collective bargaining agreement at the Ilion plant and we will be talking with them further in the coming days should their bid be accepted by the Court tomorrow.

“We do not yet know what the final outcome of the Court proceedings will be, nor do we know what the final outcome of our talks with a successful bidder will be. But this is another step in the process, and I believe it to be a positive one for our members.”

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UMWA’s Roberts urges Bankruptcy Court to keep Remington jobs in Ilion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] As the bankruptcy process at Remington Arms nears its completion, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International Union President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“Remington Arms has employed thousands of American workers and created economic prosperity in central New York for almost 200 years. The company’s plant in Ilion, N.Y., still provides more than 700 of the best jobs in America. The UMWA is proud to represent those workers and the communities where they live.

“As the Bankruptcy Court in Alabama makes a final decision about who will own this company moving forward, the UMWA strongly encourages the Judge to take into consideration the need to keep these good jobs in New York, and in the United States. We are very concerned that a new owner could close the Ilion plant and move production overseas. That would be devastating to the central New York economy and further erode American workers’ jobs.

“Americans have seen far too many of their jobs shipped out of the country, we do not want that to happen here yet again. We are watching this very closely, and hope that the Remington facilities are sold to someone who will keep the Ilion plant open and operating in the United States.”

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American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc. emerges from Murray Energy bankruptcy, all UMWA members rehired

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

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

“After nearly a year, the Murray Energy bankruptcy proceedings are finally over with the closing of the transaction shifting all the company’s assets to American Consolidated Natural Resources, Inc. (ACNR). As per the agreement ACNR signed and that was ratified by the UMWA membership in May, all UMWA members who formerly worked for Murray Energy have been hired by the new company and are working.

“As spelled out in the agreement, today becomes the effective date of the new collective bargaining agreement between the UMWA, ACNR and its subsidiary companies.

“I commend the officers and membership of our Local Unions at ACNR operations for their perseverance and patience through this proceeding. It has not been an easy time for them, especially during this coronavirus pandemic. There is much to be concerned about for those of us associated with and working in the coal industry during these troubling times, but it is good that this process has finally been completed and our members can put the uncertainty of the bankruptcy behind them.”

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Union Veterans Council Condemns VA Secretary for Putting Politics Ahead of Vets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2020

Contact: Will Attig

watt ig@unionveterans.org

(202) 251-6773

Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, military news outlet Task and Purpose reported that Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie dismissed confirmed delays in VA prescription medication delivery due to Trump administration changes to the Postal Service. In response to those comments, President of the Mine Workers of America, Union Veterans Council Chair, and Vietnam War Veteran Cecil E. Roberts, released the following statement today:

“One thing they teach us in the military is to call BS when we see it, and Secretary Wilkie is full of it. Wilkie’s own staff at the VA already confirmed what we have heard from veterans across the country: Trump administration changes to the Postal Service have caused up to a 25 percent delay in prescription deliveries. Veterans rely on these prescriptions to cope with injuries and ailments they incurred while serving our country. For some, receiving their prescriptions on time is a matter of life or death.

“First, it is outrageous that the Postal Service has taken such aggressive actions to cause this problem. Secondly, it is a dereliction of duty for the VA Secretary to attempt to cover it up.

“No matter what else happens in this politics-first, people-second administration, veterans and their families still expect the VA Secretary to be straight with them. It’s beneath the service to play politics with the health and safety of millions of veterans. Secretary Wilkie should correct himself, apologize immediately and demand that the Postal Service reverse the actions it took to cause this life-or-death problem.”

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The Union Veterans Council brings working-class veterans together to speak out on the issues that impact us most, especially the need for good jobs and a strong, fully funded and staffed VA. Additionally, we hold private enterprise and elected officials accountable for their words and actions. We believe wholeheartedly that the ability for someone to self-identify as “pro-veteran” isn’t determined by what lapel pin they don or what catchphrase they employ; veterans face real issues that require real actions—constructive actions that lead to positive solutions. At the Union Veterans Council, we fight every day for those who have fought for us.

UMWA members ratify new contract at Cumberland mine, West Virginia prep plants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 15, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced today that its members working at Contura Energy’s Cumberland Mine in Greene County, Pa., ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement, which will become effective immediately. UMWA members at five Contura coal processing plants in southern West Virginia also ratified a new agreement.

The new agreements contain no cuts to wages and benefits, and provide additional job protections for members working at the Cumberland mine.

“These are not easy times to be working in the coal industry,” UMWA International President Cecil Roberts said. “The extended coronavirus pandemic has caused the thermal coal market to crash, and the longer it goes the worse it is likely to get. Production in northern Appalachia has dropped by almost 30 percent from a year ago and now stands at a 25-year low.

“Our members have been slammed with production cuts and loss of hours while doing all they can to keep themselves and their families safe from COVID-19. Working through this pandemic has been stressful for everyone, but our membership continues to hold together and look out for each other.

“I commend our bargaining team at Contura, led by Secretary-Treasurer Levi Allen, for hammering out tentative agreements that do not have wage or benefit reductions and,” Roberts said. “That is an extraordinary achievement in a time when the coal industry is in free-fall and nonunion miners are seeing significant cuts to their wages and benefits. And I commend the membership at these operations for recognizing that and voting to ratify these agreements.”

The passing of Chris (Bubba) Leach

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 3, 2020

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

The entire Leach family was an inspiration to me and the thousands of UMWA members who marched and rallied across America to preserve health care and pensions for retired coal miners and their families. They were even arrested at the foot of Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. as a demonstration of their commitment to this cause.

Chris Leach was a strong and passionate advocate for his health care, and because of his efforts, and his voice, he was able to live his entire life with the protection of UMWA health care. We all owe Chris a debt of thanks and gratitude for his determination to win the battle for everyone’s health care and pensions.

Chris was my friend, and I will miss him terribly. But I know that he walks with the angels today, and that makes my heart glad.

UMWA endorses Salango, Petsonk in West Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUST 4, 2020

[CHARLESTON, W.V.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) West Virginia Council of the Coal Miners Political Action Committee (COMPAC) yesterday voted to endorse Ben Salango for Governor and Sam Petsonk for Attorney General in the November general election.

“Ben Salango is the clear choice for working families, and especially working and retired coal miners, in West Virginia,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “His family has UMWA roots and he understands the critical importance of the coal industry to our state. He will be a strong voice for preserving and expanding coal jobs, but in a way that puts miners first, not coal executives. That’s why he received the unanimous endorsement of our State COMPAC Council.

“Ben stands up for workers and working families, and he will be the kind of active Governor West Virginia needs,” Roberts said. “Ben knows that the best people to be in charge of coal miners’ health and safety are those who will put the safety of the miners ahead of production-first demands of coal operators.

“With Ben Salango in office, we will have a Governor who will support retired miners and widows,” Roberts said. “We have had to sue the current Governor’s companies to get them to live up to their obligations to retired miners and widows, and we are not the only ones who have taken him to court to force him to live up to his obligations.”

The endorsement of Sam Petsonk for Attorney General was also unanimous. Petsonk, who was a legal intern at the UMWA in the mid-2000’s, has dedicated his life to assisting miners, families and communities get the help they need to survive, especially with regard to wage protection and black lung benefits.

“I have known Sam for a long time, and I have always found him to be a passionate advocate for people,” Roberts said. “His work on behalf of coal miners and their families is a shining example of what a good lawyer should be doing.

“Sam’s support for coal miners extends to supporting their jobs as well,” Roberts said. “His plan for revitalizing the coal industry in West Virginia is innovative and makes use of the full powers of the Attorney General’s office in ways that benefit miners, families, communities and the state as a whole. Merely trying to recaputure the past when it comes to developing a future for coal jobs will not cut it. We have to embrace new technology and new approaches if we are going to preserve coal jobs in the long-term. Sam has that vision.”

“We intend to put the full power of our political team behind Ben, Sam, and all our endorsed candidates in West Virginia up and down the ballot in this election,” Roberts said. “Every candidate we have endorsed has earned it, and we will support them every step of the way.”

The State COMPAC Council, which is made up of UMWA Area COMPAC Council committee members, union activists and UMWA District officers from all parts of the state, met by Zoom conference on August 3, 2020, to consider the endorsements for Governor, Attorney General and other state and local offices.

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UMWA applauds Senator Duckworth’s Marshall Plan for Coal Country

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 23, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) offered strong support for the “Marshall Plan for Coal Country,” to be introduced today in the United States Senate by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).

“This is the first legislation we have seen that takes aim at the tremendous economic problems that already exist in the coalfields of America,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “Coal-producing areas of our nation have taken a pounding, and it is not getting any better. Senator Duckworth’s bill is comprehensive and includes several programs and concepts that would have strong, positive impacts on economically depressed communities in the coalfields, as well as dislocated workers and their families.”

The bill would:

Provide health care coverage through Medicare for coal workers who have lost their jobs;
Improve bankruptcy laws so that coal companies would have to pay obligations to pensions and retiree health care before they paid executive bonuses;
Establishes programs to assist dislocated coal workers with setting up their own businesses;
Provide federal government procurement preferences for goods manufactured in coal country;
Encourage first-time homebuyers to purchase homes in hard-hit coal communities while stabilizing property values for existing homeowners;
Provides significant assistance to apply carbon capture and storage technology to existing coal-fired power plants, and to build out the infrastructure needed to accomplish this;
Provide free higher education tuition to coal workers and their families to earn an Associates, Technical or Bachelor’s degree.

“These are exactly the kind of specifics we have long called for in policy initiatives to help workers, families and communities that have already been devastated,” Roberts said. “They worked long and hard to provide America with the energy it needed to become the strongest nation on Earth. They did – and many thousands are still doing – their part for all of us. We cannot continue to just kick them to the curb; America has a responsibility to them.

“This is not a climate bill,” Roberts said. “It is not a bill people should feel the need to take sides about. This is a bill that would provide critical help to the communities and people who need it right now. And it will lay the groundwork for any further economic shocks that hit the coalfields as natural gas prices continue to stay low and overall electricity demand remains depressed.

“I call on other Senators, of both parties, to support this legislation,” Roberts said. “And I strongly urge that it be part of any other economic development legislation or policy initiatives that may be under consideration in Congress, the administration or presidential campaigns.”

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