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MANCHIN, DURBIN, KAINE, BROWN, CASEY, CAPITO, WARNER INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT MINERS FROM COVID-19 EXPOSURE

 

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act which would require the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) within 7 days of enactment to protect our miners from COVID-19 exposure at the mines. Additionally, the bill would forbid mine operators from retaliating against miners for reporting infection control problems to their employer or any public authority. Additional information on the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act can be found here.

 

“Our miners risk their lives every day to power our nation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that risk is even greater for our brave miners. On April 17, my colleagues and I sent a letter to President Trump asking for MSHA to implement these safety standards, but they have yet to act to protect our miners,” said Senator Manchin. “I introduced the bipartisan COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act to ensure that our miners are protected from exposure to COVID-19 in the mines. This commonsense legislation will help our miners stay safe during this pandemic while they continue to provide Americans with the power they need every day and especially when so many Americans are spending extended amounts of time at home. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as well as MSHA and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to pass this legislation and protect our miners during this pandemic.”

 

“Thousands of mineworkers in Illinois work in difficult and dangerous conditions, and the COVID-19 crisis only heightens the need for stronger worker protections for these miners,” said Senator Durbin. “With workers sharing tight quarters during long shifts, it’s vital that the Mine Safety & Health Administration issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to limit miners’ exposure to COVID-19 and ensure that miners can earn a living without further endangering themselves or their families.”

 

“Our nation’s coal miners work tirelessly – often in dangerous conditions – to power our communities. Now more than ever, we must help ensure they can stay safe on the job,” said Senator Kaine.

 

“Ohio miners have put their health at risk for years to power our country,” said Senator Brown. “And now they’re facing more danger, as working conditions put them at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. MSHA needs to issue an enforceable safety standard to protect these miners from infectious disease, and we need to ensure these workers have the personal protective equipment they need to prevent exposure.”

 

“Some Americans can safely stay home and practice social distancing, but our Nation’s coal miners are bravely going to work every day to continue powering our country,” said Senator Casey. “The bipartisan COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act would put in place enforceable workplace safety standards to protect miners from COVID-19 on the job and would make clear that miners cannot be retaliated against for reporting health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.”

 

“West Virginia miners continue to work day in and day out to power our country,” Senator Capito said. “Making sure they are protected and as safe as possible in their job is absolutely critical, especially during COVID-19.”

 

“As our coal miners continue to do their job to keep the lights on in our communities amid this health crisis, we’ve got to make sure that they have the support they need to stay safe in this pandemic. On the job, miners often have to work in close quarters with their colleagues, which puts them at greater risk of exposure to COVD-19. That’s why we must make sure their health and safety is being prioritized, and adequate protections are put in place to protect these essential workers while on the clock,” said Senator Warner.

 

“An underground environment is unlike any other workplace there is,” United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “It can easily become a hot spot for COVID-19. Miners breathe the same circulated air no matter where they are in the mine. They frequently must work in close quarters. They ride to and from their specific work stations underground in elevators and mantrips that put them in close proximity to one another. They change into and out of their work clothes side by side before and after their shifts. We have asked MSHA to develop emergency standards to protect miners, but so far the agency has taken no action. We very much appreciate this bipartisan group of Senators for stepping up to support the more than 200,000 miners of all kinds in this nation. They need consistent, enforceable protection on the job just like every other essential worker.”

 

The COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act would require MSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard, based on CDC, NIOSH, and OSHA guidance, within 7 days of enactment to protect our miners from COVID-19 exposure at the mines. The COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act would also:

 

  • Require mine operators to provide personal protective equipment to miners;
  • Require MSHA to issue a permanent comprehensive infectious disease standard within two years;
  • Require MSHA to forbid employers from retaliating against miners for reporting infection control problems to their employer, or to local, State, or Federal government agencies; and,
  • Require MSHA, in coordination with CDC and NIOSH, to track, analyze, and investigate mine-related COVID-19 infections data in order make recommendations and guidance to protect miners from the virus.

Bill text can be found here.

 

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UMWA supports CFMEU investigation of Queensland mine ignition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 7, 2020

 

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

“The reports of an ignition along the longwall face at the Grosvenor mine in Queensland, Australia are very troubling. The hearts and prayers of the entire UMWA family are with the miners who were injured in the blast and their families. We sincerely wish them a full recovery.

“This incident is under investigation by Australian authorities and the Mining and Energy Division of the CFMEU, the Australian miners’ union. I have full confidence that the expertise the CFMEU brings to this investigation will reveal the real cause of this ignition and that they will take action to ensure something like this does not happen again.

“Coal miners put their lives on the line every day so that people all over the world can have energy and the raw materials needed to make steel. Many thousands who toil in places where there are no safety laws or where those laws are not enforced lose their lives every year. That is a true tragedy that few even know about.

“But in places like the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe, unions work to ensure that our members are as safe and healthy as possible on the job. And when incidents like this occur, we leave no stone unturned to find out what happened so that we can keep it from happening again. Every law, every regulation dealing with mine safety is written in the blood of dead and injured coal miners. We must ensure that their blood was not spilled in vain.”

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UMWA mourns passing of General Counsel Chuck Donnelly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 7, 2020

 

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

 

“The entire UMWA family joins me in mourning the passing of our General Counsel, Chuck Donnelly, who left us peacefully yesterday evening in Charleston, West Virginia. We lift his family up in our prayers and hold them in our hearts at this most difficult time.

 

“Chuck was a Marine veteran who served our nation in combat in Vietnam. He was a brilliant labor lawyer whose dedication to treating workers fairly made the lives of countless UMWA members and their families better throughout his long career in West Virginia and at the UMWA’s International headquarters in Virginia.

 

“Chuck Donnelly was a friend of mine and every working-class person he ever met. People like Chuck do not come along very often, and it hurts when they leave us. But he was a great believer in the words of Mother Jones, ‘Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living!’ We will honor his memory by doing exactly that, because Chuck would be the first to tell us there are many fights that still confront us.

 

“So long, my friend. Until we meet again.”

 

Paris Island Boot Camp Graduation – 1969

Consol Energy threatens jobs, retirement benefits in bankruptcy court filings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 29, 2020

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Recent filings by Consol Energy in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization case of Murray Energy could, if successful, destroy the jobs of thousands of miners living in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) said today.

 

“Consol Energy’s filing asking the Bankruptcy Court to convert Murray Energy’s bankruptcy filing from a Chapter 11 reorganization to a Chapter 7 liquidation could, if granted, potentially throw nearly 2,000 miners out of work,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “We have very strong opinions about this sort of tactic which would put our members and their families at grave risk, cutting off their health care and forcing them to look for other work at the time of a global pandemic.

 

“This is one of the most outrageous things I have ever seen a coal company do,” Roberts said. “And that is saying a lot.”

 

“In my mind there is no other conclusion but that Consol is using the coronavirus pandemic and the corresponding depression in the coal markets – which has caused liquidity problems for Murray as it works its way through the Chapter 11 process – to kill off the company,” Roberts said. “And in so doing, Consol will callously destroy jobs, families and the communities that depend on them, just so it can take Murray’s customers.

 

“We cannot do what we would normally do, which is to get several thousand people out in front of Consol’s shiny headquarters and say a few things in protest,” Roberts said. “But that does not mean we will be silent about this. It seems clear that Consol’s plan puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk. We will not stand idly by while it threatens our members, their families and their communities.”

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UMWA’s Roberts statement on Workers Memorial Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 28, 2020

 

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

“The United Mine Workers have long fought for better health and safety on the job, as we have lost more members than any other union to disasters and occupational diseases. Indeed, miners and their families led the way in demanding creation of the first federal occupational safety enforcement agency, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), in the wake of the Farmington #9 explosion in 1968.

“In 2020, when workers in every occupation are more at risk than ever, we need America’s safety agencies to take strong actions to ensure all workers are safe on the job. American workers are on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic and agencies like MSHA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) need to take immediate steps to protect the people who are protecting America.

“No one should question whether they are going to make it home to their loved ones at the end of their shift. But millions of workers across America are confronted with that very concern every day. Until our federal government takes its responsibility to protect workers seriously, those concerns will only grow.

“As we recognize Workers Memorial Day 2020, we pray for those workers killed or injured on the job this year, last year, and every year. And we call on all Americans to join us as we get right back to fighting for the living.”

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UMWA withdraws endorsement of Hutchison for West Virginia Court seat

[CHARLESTON, W.V.] The West Virginia State Council of COMPAC, the United Mine Workers of America’s (UMWA) political arm, yesterday voted unanimously to withdraw the organization’s endorsement of Justice John Hutchison for a seat on the West Virginia Court of Appeals.

“Since 1890, the core principles of the UMWA have always been to fight for workers’ rights to safe and healthy jobs; to be paid a fair and living wage; to be treated equally no matter their race, creed, gender, faith or color; to speak out on the job without fear of retribution; and to be able to hold their jobs free of favoritism from their employer,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “So-called ‘Right to Work’ laws, born from racism and discrimination, are a frontal attack on all those principles.

“The West Virginia state legislators who passed this law and the Justices of the West Virginia Court of Appeals who upheld it clearly do not share our principles,” Roberts said. “They do not think workers should have those rights. We cannot and will not support officeholders at any level of government who believe that.”

The union today sent a letter to the Hutchison campaign, asking for its donation to be returned.

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UMWA members ratify new contract at Murray Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APRIL 9, 2020

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Members of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) working at bankrupt Murray Energy yesterday ratified a new collective bargaining agreement by a 82% -18% vote. The company’s debtors, who will become the owners of the new company that emerges from the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, have agreed to accept the new contract and abide by its terms and conditions.

 

“Ratification of this agreement means that all our members who are currently working at Murray Energy will be employed by the new company when it takes over, with no loss of seniority or job classification,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “Without the vital protection of a contract in place, there was no guarantee that they would be able to keep their jobs. But now their job rights have been protected.”

 

“This contract does not have any concessions,” Roberts said. “In fact, it makes improvements in several areas.”

 

Murray Energy and its successor will be relieved by the bankruptcy court of any obligation to pay for retiree health care and defined benefit pensions, due to America’s broken workers-last bankruptcy laws. However, more than 12,000 current and eligible future retirees, their dependents and widows will still receive those earned benefits as a result of the passage of the Bipartisan American Miners Act in December, 2019.

 

Hourly contributions to the workers’ 401(k) plans were substantially increased in the agreement. Miners will receive wage increases of $1.00 per hour over the life of the five-year agreement, and out-of-pocket health care costs were reduced by more than half.

 

“I commend our membership at Murray Energy for their courageous vote, and their willingness to work through the abnormal circumstances we had to contend with to even hold this ratification vote in the first place,” Roberts said. “We were able to hold the vote at the mines in a safe and healthy manner, which was our first priority in these difficult times.”

 

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UMWA, Murray Energy reach tentative collective bargaining agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 2, 2020

 

[Triangle, Va.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today announced that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the bankrupt Murray Energy. If ratified, the anticipated new owners of the company have agreed to recognize the terms and conditions of the tentative agreement.

 

“This tentative agreement comes at a difficult time not just for the coal industry but for our nation and our planet,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said.

 

“Mines are either idled or only producing a limited amount of coal. Too many of our members are either laid off or not working full time. The coronavirus and the growing recession is dramatically reducing energy consumption and the demand for coal.

 

“That will hopefully change as the weather heats up,” Roberts said. “But the bankruptcy clock is still ticking, and we are very close to the time when the Court will order ownership of this company to change hands. It is critical for our members that there be an agreement in place when that happens.”

 

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released until after the UMWA members working at Murray Energy have an opportunity to review its terms and conditions and hold a ratification vote.

 

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and resulting social distancing orders in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, it is not possible to hold traditional contract explanation meetings. UMWA members will be informed of the details of this tentative agreement via electronic media and mail.

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UMWA mourns BCTGM President David Durkee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 31, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] ​United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today, mourning the passing of BCTGM International Union President David B. Durkee:

“David Durkee was one of my heroes in the labor movement. He fought like a lion on behalf of his members, unafraid to take on giant international corporations with courage, conviction and determination to preserve their jobs, their pensions and their communities. His ability to analyze complex problems and develop innovative solutions was an inspiration not just to me, but to all who worked with him.

“Brother Durkee and his BCTGM members were among 13,000 of us in Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 2018 as we rallied to fix America’s pension crisis. His strong activism for preserving pensions of current and future retirees — not just from his union, but from all unions — remains one of the labor movement’s guiding lights as we continue that battle.

“David was also my friend, and I will miss him terribly. The hearts and prayers of the entire UMWA family are with our brothers and sisters in the BCTGM and with Brother Durkee’s family at this most difficult time.”

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UMWA recognizes Vietnam War Veterans Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2020

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] March 29 was established in 2017 by Congress as National Vietnam War Veterans Day, a day to remember and honor the more than 2.7 million service men and women who served in Vietnam during that conflict, and especially the 58,148 who were killed.

 

United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

 

“As a Vietnam veteran myself, I know first-hand the pride and honor of serving my country in that war and the unrest and heartache that Vietnam veterans experienced upon their return home. The men and women, who sacrificed so much to defend the principles of our nation during the Vietnam War, never got a parade or a formal welcoming home ceremony.

 

“They were not hailed as heroes for serving in Southeast Asia, as other returning military veterans were in past wars. But it is never too late to honor their service. It is never too late to welcome them home. And it is certainly never too late to show respect to these veterans as a citizen of a grateful nation.

 

“I have been honored to be able to participate in West Virginia’s recognition of Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is annually held on March 30, and I am saddened that commemoration had to be cancelled this year because of the COVID-19 outbreak. I salute my good friend Dave Simmons, the President of the West Virginia State Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America. He does an outstanding job for all of us.

 

“The UMWA will never forget our veterans, no matter where or when they served. We say to all veterans: Thank you for your service and welcome home.”

 

To see the video the UMWA produced in honor of Vietnam War Veterans Day, click here.

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