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UMWA has “significant concerns” with proposed EPA power plant rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 15, 2023

[TRIANGLE, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) said today that the proposed power plant rule issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week will cause even more job losses in America’s coal-producing areas, without any real prospect of substantial new job creation yet to be realized.

“We have significant concerns about this proposed rule landing at a time when the promises of job creation and job retraining in the coalfields remain little more than words on paper,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said today.

“The next round of coal-fired power plant closures is coming. But the coal-producing areas of the country are still reeling from the last round, and they are not prepared for this one.

“We have long said that if there are no new jobs for displaced coal miners and their families to step into when their coal and coal-related jobs are gone, then our government will have once again failed an entire region of our nation,” Roberts said.

“While there is a promise of new jobs from the Biden administration, for now, that is all there is…a promise.”

The UMWA has long called for rapid development of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) technology to be commercially applied to coal-fired power plants, not just because it will preserve coal mining jobs but because it is the only way to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in the long term.

“We appreciate the attention the proposed rule gives to CCS technology because that is the way we can keep coal miners working and tackle greenhouse gas emissions at the same time,” Roberts said.

“But we also note that nearly two years after the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) was passed that allocates billions for the construction of commercial-grade coal-fired power plants to demonstrate that CCS can work, not one shovel of dirt has been moved to actually begin construction.

“The scenarios assumed by this proposed rule for CCS application to coal-fired power are ambitious, to say the least, especially when factoring in the lag in the development of the technology on a commercial scale,” Robert said.

“We have a hard time seeing how this will match up in real-time.”

Roberts said the UMWA will submit specific comments regarding the proposed rule in the coming weeks.

UMWA reaches tentative collective bargaining agreement with Rem Arms Inc. in Ilion, New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 28, 2023

 

UMWA reaches tentative collective bargaining agreement with Rem Arms Inc. in Ilion, New York

 

[TRIANGLE, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced today that it has reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with RemArms at its Ilion, New York operation.

The union is not releasing details of the agreement until its members have heard them and held a ratification vote.

“I am proud of our members at UMWA Local Union 717 for their determination throughout this long process,” said International President Cecil E. Roberts.

“We have been at the negotiating table with Roundhill Group for nearly two years fighting for a collective bargaining agreement. If it wasn’t for the workers’ continued efforts, this agreement would not have been possible. Ultimately though, the decision of whether or not to accept this tentative agreement is in the membership’s hands.”

A ratification vote will take place 48 hours after a contract explanation meeting is held to explain the terms and conditions of the tentative agreement. UMWA Local Union 717 is scheduling that meeting at this time.

 

UMWA Statement on NIOSH Study Finding, Coal Miners Increased Risk of Dying from Lung Diseases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 2, 2023

 

UMWA Statement on NIOSH Study Finding, Coal Miners Increased Risk of Dying from Lung Diseases

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

“The study released by NIOSH and researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago only proves what I have been saying for years. Today’s miners are contracting lung diseases at an alarming rate.

The study found that ‘progressive massive fibrosis, which is only caused by dust inhalation, was also more frequent in younger age groups. Thus, it appears likely that coal mine dust inhalation also contributed to their increased burden of nonmalignant respiratory disease’

“The silica standard presented by MSHA earlier this year will protect miners from silicosis or progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) but time is of the essence here. Every day that goes by without action is another day our nation’s coal miners are exposed to deadly silica dust.

“I testified before Congress about the effects of silica exposure in 2019. It is now four years later, and this study proves how catastrophic this delay has been for working coal miners.

“It is a shame the number of young miners that had to contract deadly diagnoses in order to make a change to our health and safety laws. Let’s get this standard passed and save the lives of those that provide the energy it takes to live ours.”

Click here to view the study.

UMWA Urges Swift Action to Pass the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 28, 2023

 

UMWA Urges Swift Action to Pass the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act

 

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

 

“The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) would provide strength to working people to negotiate for better wages and benefits in their workplace. This critical piece of legislation would finally put teeth back into the National Labor Relations Act with respect to organizing workers.

 

“It is only fitting to name this legislation in Richard Trumka’s memory, a labor leader who dedicated his life to advocating for working families. The UMWA is proud to have had such a strong champion for workers’ rights as President Emeritus of our great union.

 

“We also want to thank the members of Congress who support this bill, including Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who re-emphasized his support to us earlier this week.

 

‘Nearly half of new unions fail to reach a contract within their first year because their employers won’t even come to the table. That is plain wrong. I support the commonsense reforms in the PRO Act that will level the playing field and protect workers’ rights,’ Senator Manchin said.

 

“But it will take support from both sides of the aisle to get this vital bill passed. I urge Congress to take the necessary steps to quickly pass the PRO Act. Don’t allow American workers to face any more years of unrest at the hands of greedy corporations.”

 

UMWA Mourns Miner Killed at Central Appalachian Mining

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 27, 2023

 

UMWA Mourns Miner Killed at Central Appalachian Mining

 

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

“The UMWA is saddened to hear of the passing of William Mapes, a Mingo County miner who worked as a contractor for Central Appalachian Mining. Mapes was 73 years old and had 53 years of mining experience.

The family and friends of William Mapes are in the hearts and prayers of the UMWA. This is the first mining fatality of 2023.”

West Virginia HB 3270 is Bad for WV Workers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

 

West Virginia HB 3270 is Bad for WV Workers

 

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

“Let’s say that your boss, even though he knows that sending you to work in a section of your workplace is dangerous, sends you in there anyway. Then something happens and you are severely injured. Under current West Virginia law, if that happened to you or a loved one you or your heirs could sue that boss for needlessly and knowingly putting you in harm’s way.

“But if House Bill 3270 passes, he would get away with it. Walk away scot-free. The bill essentially lets supervisory and company executives off the hook if their decisions cause injury or death on the job. The supervisors and managers responsible for providing safe working conditions will face zero consequences even if they knowingly and intentionally expose their workers to unsafe conditions.

“Not only that, HB 3270 will also lower damage claims to a mere $250,000 against the company, which does not even begin to cover a family’s needs in the case of injury or death. This cap barely scrapes the surface of what a widow would need to provide for her children if the family’s sole provider is unable to work.

“We intend to fight this with everything we have. It is difficult to comprehend that West Virginia legislators are pushing a bill that would deliberately put workers’ lives at risk.”

Warrior Met Coal Responds to UMWA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2023

Warrior Met Coal Responds to UMWA

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

“We received a response from Warrior Met Coal to our unconditional offer to return to work late on February 17. We have replied to the company, asking several questions that we need to know the answers to before we can discuss the next steps with our members and be responsive to the company’s letter.”

UMWA issues return to work letter to Warrior Met Coal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 16, 2023

UMWA issues return to work letter to Warrior Met Coal

 

[BROOKWOOD, ALA.] International President Cecil E. Roberts of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today sent a letter to Warrior Met Coal CEO Walt Scheller announcing that the UMWA membership who have been on an unfair labor practice strike at Warrior Met Coal would return to work at the company’s four locations on March 2, 2023.

 

“We are entering a new phase of our efforts to win our members and their families the fair and decent contract they need and deserve,” President Roberts said today. “We have been locked into this struggle for 23 months now, and nothing has materially changed. The two sides have essentially fought each other to a draw thus far, despite the company’s unlawful bargaining posture the entire time.

 

“The status quo is not good for our members and their families,” Roberts said. “The company continues to pay the temporary replacement workers in its mines significant wages and bonuses up to $2,000 more per month than it has offered to pay our members at the bargaining table. If it is going to pay that kind of money, we believe it should be going to Alabama miners and their families, not those coming from out-of-state.

 

“The status quo is not good for the company or its shareholders either, as the current workforce it has in the mines cannot match the level of production that our members can,” Roberts said. “The company’s own reports, including the one issued just yesterday, proves that. They have lost nearly a billion dollars in unrealized revenue over the last 23 months.”

 

The letter, known under the legal term as an “unconditional offer to return to work,” follows federal labor law and would implement the return to work of hundreds of UMWA members while giving the union and the company time to work out a new agreement.

 

“We have long said that we are ready to get in the same room with Warrior Met leadership and stay there until we have an agreement,” Roberts said. “So far the company has not been willing to do that. I sincerely hope that Warrior Met leadership will accept this offer, get our members back to work, engage in good faith bargaining and finally sit down face-to-face with us to resolve this dispute for the betterment of all concerned.”

 

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UMWA Outraged at Coal Company’s Willful Violation Of Health And Safety Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 3, 2023

 

UMWA Outraged at Coal Company’s Willful Violation Of Health And Safety Standards

[TRIANGLE, VA] Commenting on Black Diamond Coal’s guilty plea to willfully violating a mandatory federal health and safety standard, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“I have said this before and it is outrageous that I am having to say it again: This is yet another example of a company putting profits first and the safety of its workers last. The simple fact is that Black Diamond willingly put its miners at risk by falsifying dust samples.

“More than one hundred thousand coal miners in the last century have died a slow, painful death from Black Lung disease due to their exposure to respirable dust in their workplace and the number of young coal miners contracting this always-fatal disease is rising today. That’s because outlaw operators like Black Diamond continue to run coal mines without regard for the health and well-being of their workers.

“Union health and safety inspectors work to ensure that our members are as safe and healthy as possible on the job. But at non-union companies like Black Diamond, workers have no such protection.

“While I am glad to see that the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration caught this injustice, I also know that the punishment for this crime is far too little. This Black Diamond official created a condition in the workplace that can and likely will lead to the premature death of miners. A fine of $200,000 does not come close to atoning for that.”

UMWA Comments on Guilty Plea from Mine Company’s Ex-Safety Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 6, 2023

UMWA Comments on Guilty Plea from Mine Company’s Ex-Safety Director

 

[TRIANGLE, VA] Commenting on the guilty plea from Signal Peak Energy’s former mine safety director, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“It is the responsibility of a Mine Safety Director to do his or her best to ensure the safety of the workers at their mine. The fact that this man was able to conceal severe injuries that occurred on the job, and browbeat the victim into accepting a payment to cover it up, is a perfect example of why union safety committees are so important to the health and safety of miners.

“While I am glad that the government has been able to get a guilty plea in this case, It is not yet clear just what the penalty will be.

“Further, if anyone thinks this is an isolated incident, I have a bridge to sell them. Companies routinely and deliberately fail to report job-related injuries, and not just in the mining industry. Companies will always look toward their bottom line first and workers second unless there are safeguards in place to prevent them from doing so. A union provides just such safeguards.”

Click here to view KTVQ’s news story on this event.