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UMWA Members Ratify Contract at Rem Arms in Ilion, New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 16, 2023

 

UMWA Members Ratify Contract at Rem Arms in Ilion, New York

[TRIANGLE, VA.] The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced today that its members working at Rem Arms in Ilion, NY., ratified a new three-year collective bargaining agreement, which will become effective immediately.

“When Remington Arms filed for bankruptcy in 2020, it looked as if the Ilion plant would close for good. That put tremendous pressure on our members at Local Union 717, their families, and their communities,” said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts.

“But the UMWA never quit fighting for those jobs,” Roberts said. “We were successful in encouraging a new buyer that would keep the plant open and secure the jobs and livelihoods of our members. The struggle then was to work out a collective bargaining agreement with the new owner, which we have done after more than two years of bargaining.”

The UMWA has represented workers at the Ilion plant since 1995 and currently has more than 290 members who manufacture the finest firearms in the world.

Warren McGraw, The UMWA Mourns The Passing of a True Champion for Working People


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 15, 2023

Warren McGraw, The UMWA Mourns The Passing of a True Champion for Working People

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

“I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of a true champion for working people. Warren McGraw was the definition of a working-class hero. From 1969 when he stood on the floor of the West Virginia legislature and made his fiery speech for Black Lung Benefits to his advocacy for Health and Safety Legislation, he was always on worker’s side.

“As the son of a disabled coal miner, McGraw knew the struggles that faced coal mining families in West Virginia, and he dedicated his life to fighting for miner’s and their families. We have lost a warrior. We have lost a friend. The entire UMWA Family grieve for the McGraw’s loved ones and have them in our prayers.”

 

OP-ED: Kentucky is UMWA Country

Source: Lexington Herald-Leader

June 7, 2023

Kentucky is UMWA Country

By: Cecil E. Roberts, International President, United Mine Workers of America

I read in recent news reports that there are some in Kentucky who are shocked – shocked! – that the United Mine Workers of America would support the re-election of Gov. Andy Beshear. Let me be clear: When it comes to supporting candidates for election, the UMWA supports those who support us. Period. It does not matter what office they hold or what party they belong to.

Ask Republican Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, or former Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, also a Republican. Ask Republican Representatives Hal Rogers and Jamie Comer of Kentucky. They seek and receive our endorsement come election time because they earn it during their terms of office. When someone consistently steps up for us, then we step up for them. That’s exactly what Andy Beshear has done.

By strongly supporting our fight to preserve health care and pension benefits for retired miners and spouses, Gov. Beshear has already demonstrated that he is a friend to the more than 10,000 retired miners in the state. Almost all of those retirees have children and grandchildren of voting age, and they know just how important the UMWA has been and continues to be to their parents and grandparents.

More than $120 million flowed into Kentucky in 2022 alone to pay for health care and pensions for those UMWA retirees. No other non-governmental organization in the state even comes close to providing that level of economic impact in coalfield communities. None.

In places like Pike County ($14.5 million), Muhlenberg County ($16.6 million), Hopkins County ($13.2 million), and Union County ($11.9 million), these payments are what keep doctor’s offices, clinics, and pharmacies open for everyone – not just retired miners. That money keeps grocery stores, family restaurants, and gas stations open and running. Without the UMWA and the benefits the union has fought for over generations, these and other coal counties would be deep in poverty.

From recent comments I’ve seen, some Kentucky politicians have no idea about the role the UMWA plays in their state’s economy. They would do well to learn something about it before they go shooting their mouths off about the relevance of the UMWA to Kentucky and its electorate.

Gov. Beshear has been a supporter of active and retired Kentucky coal miners and their families from Day One of his administration. It is simply false to say that because some Washington politicians are not friendly to the coal industry, then all politicians of that party everywhere are therefore not our friends. That’s bull.

Andy Beshear has and will continue to support the mining and use of coal to generate electricity. Kentucky’s 3,000 rank-and-file coal miners can count on that. After all, it wasn’t just the UMWA who endorsed him the other day, several coal operators did as well. Chew on that for a while.

We are proud of our support of Gov. Beshear, and we will shout it from every mountain, hill, and holler in the state. We endorsed him because we know that he has not just been our friend, he has been a friend to the state’s more than 2 million workers who do not work in the coal industry. By the way, we represent some of them, too.

He has proven himself to us and our families; he has earned our endorsement; and we will work day and night to return him to Frankfort to continue fighting for us.

Navajo Nation, United Mine Workers of America announce Labor Management Agreement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2023

 

Navajo Nation, United Mine Workers of America announce Labor Management Agreement

[TRIANGLE, VA] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced today that a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Navajo Nation and the UMWA has been signed that will re-establish collective bargaining rights for Navajo Nation employees in UMWA Local Union 2005.

“I commend the Nygren administration for moving forward in a positive way for these employees,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. “This agreement is good not only for the hard-working men and women we represent but for the Nation itself. It will re-establish workers’ rights under a collective bargaining agreement, it establishes the pathway to negotiating a new agreement that recognizes the skills and dedication of these workers.”

The UMWA represents approximately 1,500 Navajo employees in the Executive Branch, Head Start Program and the Division of Public Safety.

 

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.”