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Dear UMWA Activist,

At the National Miners' Monument, Union Presidents and officials paid tribute to the 26 men and one woman who lost their lives in the worst coal mine fire disaster in Utah history on Dec. 19, 1984.

International Secretary-Treasurer Levi Allen, International District 22 Vice President Mike Dalpiaz, and Chairman of the Utah Industrial Commission Jaceson Maughan, were all speakers at this event.

Click here to read more about this occasion.

Sincerely,

UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NOVEMBER 29, 2019

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today regarding the proposal by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Ia.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) addressing the multi-employer pension plan crisis:

          “This proposal provides everything those who advocate against working families have ever wished for. It penalizes workers for joining unions, it penalizes retirees for sticking with those unions, it penalizes employers for recognizing unions and it penalizes unions themselves for successfully representing their members.

          “This is not a starting point for negotiations. It is a multi-billion dollar tax increase on working families – especially retired Americans living on fixed incomes – their employers and their unions. Retirees covered by the UMWA Pension Fund, for example, would be subject to a 10 percent tax on pensions that average a little under $600 per month.

          “This proposal does not begin to address the immediate crisis UMWA retirees and their families are confronting. Fortunately, the Bipartisan American Miners Act –by Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and a dozen bipartisan Senate cosponsors – does address that crisis, using an existing source of funding that requires no new bureaucracy and most importantly, no new taxes on working families.

          “Retired miners, their families and widows do not have the luxury of waiting to see if Congress can eventually come up with a comprehensive solution to the multi-employer pension crisis that treats retirees fairly. 1,200 stand to lose their health care at the end of this year, 12,000 more will lose health care within a few short months, and more than 82,000 will likely see drastic cuts to their pensions a few months after that.

         “We continue to strongly urge House and Senate leadership – all of whom say they want to address the immediate crisis retired miners face – to put partisanship aside and pass the Bipartisan American Miners Act. These senior citizens, who provided the fuel to power America at great risk of life and limb, need action now. Let’s get this done."

                                                                    ###

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Dear UMWA Activist,

It has been 30 years since the monumental strike against the Pittston Coal Company.

The UMWA is fortunate enough to have the most dedicated, active, and motivated membership in the entire labor movement. It is because of them, and the UMWA's strong leadership, the union prevailed.

In this video, Local Union 1569 member Lee Potter talks about the impact Cecil E. Roberts, the union's Vice President at the time, made during the 1989 Pittston Strike.

In Solidarity,

The UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2019

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

“The inclusion of Bipartisan American Miners Act in the appropriations legislation to be considered by Congress this week is a tremendous victory for tens of thousands of retired miners, their families and their communities.

“We are close, but the fight is not yet over. The House will vote on this tomorrow, and the Senate will vote later in the week. We will continue our efforts to ensure that this language stays in the legislation throughout the process, because there are still those who oppose allowing retirees from living out their days with the measure of comfort and dignity that they have earned.

“I especially want to thank the thousands of UMWA members who have written the letters, made the phone calls, gone to the rallies, and walked the halls of Congress to keep this issue front and center. We would not be at this point without their efforts.

“I want to thank Congressional leadership for agreeing to include this language in the funding bills. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been a stalwart supporter throughout this fight, meeting with our members from across America over and over again. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s support this past month proved to be critical. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer kept our issue at the top of his agenda for years. We will never forget their support.

“Our three champions on both sides of Capitol Hill fought hard against sometimes long odds to get us to this day: Senator Joe Manchin (D – W.Va.) Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Representative David McKinley (R-W.Va.). They never quit, they never turned around, they never stopped working side by side with us to get this done.

“I also want to thank Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R) of Ohio, Senator Bob Casey (D) of Pennsylvania, Senators Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D) of Virginia, Senator Doug Jones (D) of Alabama and Senators Dick Durbin (D) and Tammy Duckworth (D) of Illinois.

“Our strong bipartisan coalition in the House included Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Rep. Mike Bost, (R-Ill.), Rep Rodney Davis (R-Ill.), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.), Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Rep Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Oh.), Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Oh.), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Oh.), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Oh.), Rep. Jamie Comer (R-Ky.), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-Ala.), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Az.), Rep. Paul Cook (R-Cal.) and many, many others.

“The end of our 10-year battle to preserve the pensions and health care our retirees earned in sweat and blood is in sight. Let’s get this done in Congress, and put it on President Trump’s desk for his signature.”

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Click here to watch a video update from President Roberts.

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Dear UMWA Activist,

The Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax, recognized UMWA members from Southwest Virginia on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, for their unwavering determination and successful efforts to secure the pensions and health care of our nation's miners.

Click here to read more about this week's event.

Sincerely,

The UMWA Activist Team

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PRESIDENT ROBERTS WAS ASKED TO BE AN HONORARY NATIONAL CO-CHAIR OF THE MOTHER JONES STATUE COMMITTEE BY THE MOTHER JONES HERITAGE PROJECT.

Mary Harris “Mother” Jones was once labeled “the most dangerous woman in America” by a U.S. district attorney. She was a fearless organizer for the United Mine Workers and a staunch advocate for workers in their struggle for justice.

President Cecil E. Roberts’ great-grandmother, Sarah Blizzard, fought along side Mother Jones in the Paint Creek – Cabin Creek Strike of 1912. “Mother” Blizzard and “Mother” Jones once even participated in a march where they allegedly struck policemen with their umbrellas.

The Mother Jones Heritage Project is working to place a statue in her honor in the city of Chicago. They wish to recognize “a woman whose grit and determination overcame a life of terrible hardship” and “rose from her own despair to become a powerful advocate for the worth of every person, including mine community women, reaching across lines of gender, color, class and national origin.”

TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT CLICK HERE.

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Dear UMWA Activist,

President Roberts sent a letter to President Trump regarding the importance of getting a fix done for the multiemployer pension system as part of the stimulus bill. We believe this is the perfect time to preserve the pensions of millions of hard working Americans.

Now that our pensions are protected, we are continuing the fight to protect ALL WORKERS' pensions.

"As the administration and Congress work to pass legislation that will provide vitally needed economic stimulus across the American economy in this time of great national peril, I strongly urge you to include language that will protect the pensions of millions of hard-working Americans and senior citizens."

"I urge you to persuade Congress to include the language of the Emergency Multiemployer Pension Plan Relief Act of 2020 in the stimulus legislation. This legislation will provide the means for working Americans to have some measure of economic security in these difficult times."

Click here to read the full letter.

Sincerely,

The UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 26, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts yesterday sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health David Zatezalo, calling for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to issue a "safeguard," or emergency standard, which would increase protections for miners working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While these are certainly difficult times for all workers, it is especially challenging for workers who are unable to work from home and have valid concerns about their health and safety and that of their loved ones," Roberts said in the letter. "Our miners work in close proximity to one another from the time they arrive at the mine site. They get dressed, travel down the elevator together, ride in the same man trip, work in confined spaces, breathe the same air, operate the same equipment, and use the same shower facilities."

Roberts noted that the coronavirus is of special concern for those miners who have impaired lung function due to Black Lung. "Many miners are also older and suffer from various underlying health conditions such as pneumoconiosis, which the UMWA believes will greatly exacerbate the severity of the symptoms related to COVID-19," Roberts said. "These miners are considered 'high risk' and are often located in rural areas that do not provide the same access to health care centers as workers in urban areas," Roberts said. "This makes miners one of the most vulnerable populations for the virus."

Roberts asked that MSHA "immediately issue safeguard/emergency standards to protect the most valuable resource in the mine - - the miner. The UMWA stands ready to work with MSHA, the mining industry, and our members to find ways to protect miners in these unprecedented times. Miners are a resilient people and have overcome many challenges throughout time. This will be yet another situation where we will overcome, protecting our miners, their families, their communities, and allow them to continue to provide these valuable resources when our nation needs them most."

Roberts' letter to Zatezalo can be viewed here.

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Dear Activist,

This pandemic and economic collapse, along with the recent wave of civil unrest and protest and growing voter suppression tactics have forced this nation into an unprecedented season of crisis. As Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II teaches us, our tenacity must now take the character of the abolitionists of old: "Every attack on our democracy and on the poor must intensify and embolden our agitation."

On Monday, September 14 at 7pm ET/4pm PT, United Mine Workers of America is proud to join the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival for a massive digital event - Voting is Power Unleashed: Moral Monday Mass Assembly.

This online program will bring together thousands workers, community and faith organizations, and more as we plan to educate and empower ourselves on voter engagement, registration, and voter protection ahead of this consequential election season.

The program will be anchored by two prominent legal organizations, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Forward Justice, which will lead a massive and unique teach-in on voter participation and protection. We will also hear from poor and low-income folks who have experienced voter suppression as well as notable leaders, artists, activists, and the co-chairs of the Poor People's Campaign.

With just a small uptick in the number of poor and low-income voters mobilizing around a common agenda, the political calculus of this nation can fundamentally change for years to come. Our moment is now and we must seize the potential to impact policies and elections for future generations. Although UMWA members generally enjoy the best pay in their communities, many of our neighbors and even family members live in poverty or close to it, that must change, and is one of the MANY reasons we stand behind the #PoorPeoplesCampaign.

Rise with us by registering for the Voting is Power Unleashed: Moral Monday Mass Assembly and join the broadcast on September 14 at 7pm ET/4pm PT. Share the news through this social media toolkit.

On September 14, we cry power to the nation!

Sincerely,

UMWA Activist Team

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Dear Activist,

Please see the 2020 Veterans Day Video from President Roberts. The UMWA is very appreciative of the sacrifices all the men and women of our country have made.

On behalf of the United Mine Workers of America, UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts would like to wish all veterans and their families a happy Veterans Day.

Sincerely,

UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 27, 2020

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Dear UMWA Activist,

The UMWA stands in solidarity with the American Postal Workers Union by asking Congress to #SaveThePostOffice. Millions of Americans, especially seniors, rely on the Postal Service for critical goods and services. Senators need to keep hearing from the people they represent about the role the Postal Service is playing during this crisis and its ongoing value to the American people.

We are asking you to join APWU''s Day of Action TODAY, June 23, 2020.

Click here for more information.

Sincerely,

The UMWA Activist Team

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Dear UMWA Activist,

We are happy to announce that U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was named an honorary member of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). Senator Manchin received this honor for his relentless work over the last 5 years to secure pensions for 92,000 coal miners and their widows and healthcare benefits for 36,000 coal miners.

"Standing alongside the UMWA members while they fought tooth and nail to secure the pension and healthcare benefits they rightfully earned has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Today I am humbled to be recognized as an honorary member of this great organization and to be brought in as one of their brothers. I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished together for West Virginia coal miners and their families and all miners across America. Thank you to Cecil Roberts and the entire UMWA membership for this tremendous honor," said Senator Manchin.

"No one - no one - worked harder on getting this legislation passed than Joe Manchin. He has been a voice of reason on Capitol Hill since his election. Tens of thousands of miners, their families and widows have so much to thank him for, because he has literally saved their lives. We honor him today, but we will never forget what he did for us," said UMWA President Cecil Roberts.

Source: manchin.senate.gov

Please click here for more photos from the ceremony.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MARCH 22, 2020

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

? ? ? ? ? "The United Mine Workers of America was founded on a simple principle: 'An injury to one is an injury to all.' Today, the UMWA stands with our sisters and brothers in the aviation industry in opposition to the no-strings-attached corporate bailout proposed in the U.S. Senate.

? ? ? ? ? "Taxpayer funds for the airlines should be used to keep workers on payroll, not to pad the pockets of CEOs and shareholders. Rural Americans cannot afford for the airlines to cut service to preserve cash during this national emergency, or to go bankrupt in the long term. We need a functioning aviation industry to provide us with medical supplies, the U.S. Mail, prescription drugs and other necessities.

? ? ? ? ? "The aviation industry cannot survive without its workers. Keeping flight attendants, pilots, mechanics, and airport service workers on the payroll and connected to their health care should be Congress' priority, not creating yet more sweetheart deals for CEOs. Congress only has one shot at this, it must get it right."

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Henry,

We need action, fast.

Millions of Americans are struggling to feed their families now that the $600 unemployment checks have ended. The last check went out July 25, and still the Senate is refusing to act-more than two months after the House passed the HEROES Act.

On Aug. 11, we are taking our fight nationwide to the front doors of senators who refuse to #Savethe600 or provide any other support to unemployed workers. At these Senate offices, we are holding food distributions to help families in need and reminding senators of their obligation to America's families who are struggling to survive this pandemic through no fault of their own.

That same day, we are challenging ourselves and thousands of others to stand in solidarity with families going hungry, by pledging to fast that day and calling on the Senate to provide much needed relief for laid-off workers.

Will you join us by pledging to join our national fast on Aug. 11 and taking action with us that day?

Henry, here's the plan:

1. Today, make the pledge to fast.

2. On Aug. 11, post an "empty plate" solidarity picture on social media with a message to senators. Don't forget to tag senators who refuse to pass the HEROES Act. Pledge now and we'll send you instructions!

By pledging today, you are helping to send a message to America's families everywhere who are struggling right now that they are not alone.

In Solidarity,

UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts

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Dear UMWA Activist,

On December 20, 2019, Congress "KEPT THE PROMISE" and secured the pensions and health care of the men and women who risked their lives to energize our nation.

"When the history of our struggle to preserve miners'' pensions and health care is written, it will be recorded that, against all odds and in spite of all those who doubted our ability to succeed, the UMWA gathered together and joined with our allies to "Keep the Promise". There has never been a greater force for justice and dignity on earth than the American Labor Movement and no greater Union than the UMWA." - President Cecil E. Roberts

Click here to watch our "Promise Kept" Pension Victory Video.

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Dear UMWA Activist,

If you are an ACTIVE UMWA MEMBER and you decide you need to withdrawal funds from your 401k account please see the Corona Virus Distribution Form from Prudential posted to our website.

You can access the form here.

Stay safe,

The UMWA Activist Team

Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action. We do not control or endorse the conduct of users and make no representations of any kind about them.

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Dear UMWA Activist,

We would like to share with you the following op-ed written by UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts about the current unjust bankruptcy laws in America.

Source: WV Gazette-Mail

It was startling to read a recent report that more than $274 million has been paid to lawyers and financial advisers in just 20 of the coal industry's 56 bankruptcies since 2012. Two hundred, seventy-four million! While that is just a blip on the balance sheets of these huge law firms and Wall Street financial houses, it would go a long way in the coalfields.

Bankrupt coal companies often pay legal fees that can run up to $1,800 per hour. I ask you: Who is worth $1,800 an hour? That's about 58 times what a coal miner earns. I can make a good argument that what the coal miner produces is much more valuable to America than what a bankruptcy lawyer produces.

Two hundred, seventy-four million dollars! Yet, retired union coal miners had to fight down to the wire to preserve their pensions and health care. Coalfield clinics, pharmacies, therapists, hospitals and other health care providers are dealing with decreasing revenue and are struggling to stay open. Indeed, many have closed their doors, slashing health care access for everyone.

Two hundred, seventy-four million dollars! Yet, coal communities affected by bankruptcies are seeing tax revenue dry up. They cannot pay for local police forces, deputy sheriffs, firefighters, EMT's and more. Their infrastructure is crumbling, and they do not have the resources to do anything about it.

Let's face it, America's bankruptcy system is a scam. It's rigged to siphon off millions of dollars from working-class communities and send it to Wall Street. And just what is it that these lawyers and financial advisers are providing?

The American bankruptcy process is straightforward. The steps are clear and bankruptcy courts' decisions almost always follow the same rules, no matter where that court is located:

• First, workers and retirees get nothing.
• Next, vendors get a little, but not nearly all they are owed.
• Next, the bankrupt company's executives split up a wealth of bonuses.
• Next, the lenders get most of their money back.
• And last, a company cannot emerge from bankruptcy until it gets more loans, called exit financing, which ensures the lawyers and advisers get paid.

That is exactly how it works. The workers and retirees get nothing and the lawyers and advisers always get paid. They have been running this scam especially hard in the coalfields lately.

No one knows better than I that the coal industry has been hit hard. The markets for traditional energy fuels, such as coal and natural gas, are depressed. The market for metallurgical coal has looked like a yo-yo the past several years; some years are good, some years are bad. Coal-fired power plants are closing at an accelerating pace. Companies sometimes have to turn to bankruptcy.

But the rules I laid out above are almost always followed by bankruptcy courts. I know that, and the companies know that. I cannot figure out why the companies need to pay $274 million for someone to explain rules they already know. But they did, and they are paying now, and more companies will be paying in the future. I do not know what value they are getting for that money.

In the meantime, the resources and funding that workers, families and communities in America's coalfields so desperately need is sucked away, never to return. It is a con game and, in the end, we all pay for it.

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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 front lines 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."

Click here to view our Workers'' Memorial Day video.

Action Network is an open platform that empowers individuals and groups to organize for progressive causes. We encourage responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action. We do not control or endorse the conduct of users and make no representations of any kind about them.

You can unsubscribe or update your email address or change your name and address by changing your subscription preferences here.

Dear UMWA Activist,

UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts held a Zoom meeting today where he discussed the current events that our nation is facing.

Click here to watch.

Sincerely,

The UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 16, 2020

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] The United Mine Workers of America International Union (UMWA) and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) today jointly filed a petition for a writ of mandamus forcing the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard protecting miners from infectious diseases.

"We have been asking MSHA to step up and do its job to protect America's miners from the beginning of this pandemic," UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. "But so far, the agency has refused. You would think that those who are charged with keeping miners safe would want to actually do so. It is very disappointing that they have turned their backs on these critical workers.

"Working in a mine is very different from working in any other workplace," Roberts said. "The air is circulated throughout the mine, meaning an airborne disease like COVID-19 can spread among workers who are far removed from one another. A six-foot social distance is meaningless in an underground environment."

"MSHA's sole purpose is to keep miners safe, and COVID-19 poses a grave risk to workers' health," said USW International President Tom Conway. "It's time for our federal agencies to start taking their responsibilities to workers seriously. We needed an emergency temporary standard for infectious diseases at the beginning of the pandemic, and we still need one now."

"The situation confronting miners is urgent," the petition states. "Miners have largely been designated as 'essential' workers and thus are currently working at mine sites across the country. Further, as government-imposed stay-at-home orders are lifted and demand for mine-produced resources increases, more miners will return to work at pre-pandemic levels."

The petition goes on to say "if MSHA fails to issue an ETS to address this unprecedented crisis, the life and health of tens of thousands of miners will be placed in grave danger as a result of the miners' increased exposure to COVID-19."

The petition for a writ of mandamus has been filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and asks for an expedited hearing process with a ruling to be issued within 30 days of the Court granting the writ.

Click here to view the court filing.

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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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Dear Activist,

At this time, the Coronavirus is primarily occurring in America''s coastal states. However, it will soon move inland and we want to make sure that the UMWA membership and their families have the proper resources to remain as safe and healthy as possible.

Practice good hygiene, stay home if you''re able to, and take the necessary precautions for sick family members in the house!

For more information, please click here to visit the UMWA website.

Sincerely,

UMWA Activist Team

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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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Dear UMWA Activist,

Coronavirus cases and unemployment numbers are climbing, but Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent the Senate home without debating the HEROES Act, the next coronavirus economic relief package.

The House passed the HEROES Act on May 15. Yet for two months, the Senate has not brought this critical legislation to the floor, nor has it proposed an alternative solution. The number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 has exponentially increased in nearly every state, and millions of Americans have been left unemployed through no fault of their own.

Tell the Senate to pass the HEROES Act today.

The HEROES Act was designed to save lives and livelihoods. Without action, working people are going to continue to get sick on the job and/or lose their jobs. It has become clear that uncoordinated piecemeal actions will not stop the spread, save the economy or lead the economy. The importance of a federal response cannot be overstated.

Tell the Senate to get back to work and pass the HEROES Act now, and do what is right for our health, our economy and our country.

In Solidarity,

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 22, 2020

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

"I commend Representative Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Representative David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and the 19 other members of the House who are sponsors and original co-sponsors of the COVID-19 Mine Worker Protection Act, which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday. This bill, if passed, will save miners' lives.

"America's miners have been on the job every day during this pandemic, producing the critical materials our nation has continued to need regardless of the virus. Many have contracted COVID-19, but because nearly all mines are located in more rural areas of the country, the spread of the virus has not been as severe as it has in other areas. That is now changing, and miners need the protection provided by this legislation now more than ever.

"Miners are especially prone to the dangers of COVID-19 because of the nature of their work. Unlike other professions where social distancing recommendations are practicable, mining requires the continuous clustering of people working in close proximity to one another. Wearing a mask is critical for safety, but it is not enough.

"Many individual mine operators and local unions have implemented their own measures in an attempt to mitigate the risks of exposure to this highly contagious virus. But those measures are not enforceable should the companies decide to backslide on them - and many are now doing just that.

"Miners need a uniform set of rules, enforced by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), to ensure that the highest level of precautionary measures are in place at every mine. This bill, and its companion bill in the Senate, S. 3710, will do that. Congress must act as soon as possible."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JUNE 2, 2020

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

? ? ? ? ? ? ? "The senseless murder of George Floyd last week was the latest in a long, outrageous chain of injustices suffered by African-Americans and people of color in America. It is past time that we confront the ugly history of racism and inequality in our nation, and work to put it behind us once and for all.

"None of our children or grandchildren should ever grow up in fear of being injured or killed merely because of the color of their skin. I join with those who protest George Floyd's killing, and who seek justice for it and for their families.

"There is a difference between peaceful protest and the violence we have seen sweep across America these last several nights. I do not support looting, burning and destruction of property as a form of protest, because it is not.

"It is becoming clearer every day that most of the worst violence has been committed by radical underground groups on both the right-wing and left-wing fringes. They are not protesting; they are engaging in violence to fulfill their own twisted agendas. We must not allow their actions to lead us from the path of unity and healing.

"At a time when so much is confronting America, we need leaders who will unite our nation, not look for ways to divide it even further for mere political gain. I call on every elected official in our country to seek out paths forward that will bring us together, so that we can truly be, 'one Nation, under God, with liberty and justice for ALL."

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Dear UMWA Activist,

Help the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA tell Secretary Mnuchin that he can''t leverage people when it comes to making changes to the CARES act!

"Secretary Mnuchin is threatening to take equity on the grants -- leveraging the very people who make aviation fly and who right now are on the frontlines of this pandemic. Congress did not intend for this to work this way. The payroll grants are intended to keep us out of the unemployment line. The return to taxpayers is no involuntary furloughs or layoffs, keeping our vital industry intact for essential service during this national emergency, and our ability to continue to pay taxes, be consumers, and take care of ourselves and our families during this crisis. Warrants make sense on the loans, they do not make sense on the grants that are designated for our paychecks."

Click here for more information and to write him a letter!

Sincerely,

The UMWA Activist Team

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UMWA International President, Cecil E. Roberts is asking everyone to reach out to their Representatives and ask them to #SaveThePostOffice.

The Coronavirus shutdown is plummeting postal revenues while increasing costs. The Postal Service could run out of money by the end of the summer without Congressional action.

Click here to see President Roberts'' message.

UMWA Activist Team

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 19, 2020

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

"The coronavirus pandemic that has struck the United States has brought death and economic devastation in multiple regions, but none more so than the Navajo Nation, which has surpassed New York City as the region with the most COVID-19 cases per capita in America. We represent many thousands of Navajo workers, and our prayers are with those who have lost family members and those who are still struggling with this disease.

"It is very troubling that critical federal support and supplies that were intended to go to the Navajo Nation were delayed or misdirected. The federal government has a special responsibility to provide support to Native American nations, many of which already suffered from chronic public health issues long before this virus showed up. Simply put, our government failed them.

"For many Navajo families, this could not come at a worse time. With the needless and premature closure of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) at the end of last year, hundreds of workers at that plant and the Kayenta coal mine that fed the NGS were thrown out of work. They were already suffering, and now many have lost family members or are caring for severely sick relatives, while trying to keep the virus from spreading even further in their families.

"The loss of revenue to the Navajo Nation government from the NGS and Kayenta closures already had a severe impact on the resources it has available to provide for its people before the virus hit. Now, the situation is desperate. I call on the United States government to rapidly increase the level of assistance that is going to the Navajo Nation and all tribal governments.

"This disease is especially strong in those communities which already had health issues and a history of poor access to health care facilities, which is true in most rural areas of the country. As we bring more resources to bear to fight this virus throughout the country, we cannot continue to leave rural America behind."

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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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DECEMBER 21, 2020

UMWA able to further protect retiree health care in 2021 omnibus

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

"The bipartisan COVID relief package that a bipartisan group of Senators - including the UMWA's friends Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mark Warner (D.-Va.), and Rob Portman (R-OH) - initiated is long overdue and a good first step to helping tens of millions of our fellow citizens stay in their homes, feed their families and get the health care they need as this pandemic rages on even stronger. As vaccines begin to be administered around the country, this is more welcome news.

"We were pleased to be able to provide further protection in the FY 2021 omnibus appropriations bill for some 8,000 retired coal miners, their dependents and widows whose companies are still paying for their health care benefits but are threatened with future bankruptcy. 2019 and even more so 2020 have been especially bad years for the coal industry. Although we would much prefer to see the industry reverse its current slide, we needed to take action in case it does not.

"Now those retirees can have the peace of mind that they will have their health care, and funding for their pensions that we won just a year ago will not be threatened. I want to thank our bipartisan friends in the Senate and House who went to leadership about this provision, thank those leaders for agreeing to it and especially thank Speaker Pelosi for being such a strong voice on our retirees' behalf.

"I am also glad that we were able to extend the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund excise tax at current levels for an additional year, although we need much more action to stabilize the Fund. The entire Black Lung benefits system needs an overhaul, and this will give us time to get the details of that worked out with all stakeholders.

"I was pleased to see the new round of assistance in the COVID funding package for the unemployed and direct payments to working families. We have close to two thousand of our members who are currently laid off; they and their families can use this assistance immediately. I am also glad to see that our nation's transportation industry is getting assistance that it so critically needs. It is good news that 32,000 airline employees will be called back to work in the coming days.

"There is much more to be done. The jobs of our first responders who work for state and local governments are in trouble because of Congress' failure to include assistance for those entities. That puts us all at greater risk. Critical state and municipal services that working families rely on will be put on hold. Congress must build off the spirit of bipartisanship that got this COVID package off the ground and work with the incoming administration to ensure our nation and its people can come out of the pandemic later next year with an economy that is primed to grow and that will leave no one behind."

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Dear Activist,

2021 AFL-CIO Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Virtual Conference will be held on January 15th and 16th.

We're done talking about what 2020 has taken from us. Let's talk about what we built together. Let's talk about what we'll fight for in 2021!

The theme for the 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil and Human Rights Conference is From Protest to Power: When We Fight, We Win. On Jan. 15 and 16, we will gather virtually to build on our victories and strategize about the continued fight for economic and racial justice with-and also within-the labor movement.

The conference will be free of charge, and all sessions and trainings will be held online so that everyone can attend safely.

January 15th:

11-11:15 am : Conference Opens and Benediction

11:15 - 11:30 : Welcome and Greetings

11:30 am - Noon : President's Address

Noon - 12:45 pm : Concurrent Issue Forms

12:45 - 1 pm : Virtual Networking

1 - 1:45 pm : Keynote Address and Panel Discussion

1:45 - 2 pm : Closing Remarks

January 16th:

11 - 11:15 am : Benediction and Day 2 Conference Opening

11:15 - Noon : Plenary

Noon - 12:15 pm : Virtual Networking

12:15 - 1 pm : Concurrent Issue Forums

1 - 1:45 pm : Awards Ceremony

1:45 - 2 pm : Closing Remarks

Click here to register for this event!

Sincerely,

UMWA Activist Team

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