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Union: Poor prison conditions endanger employees as well as prisoners

August 29, 2016

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International Union has filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division on behalf of inmates and employees at the Fayette County, Pa. Prison, pointing out unsanitary conditions, routine maintenance deficiencies that put corrections officers and inmates in severe danger, compromised structural integrity of the facility and more.

Retired miners risk losing health care, pensions

May 25, 2016

Health care and pension funds covering tens of thousands of retirees throughout the Appalachian and Midwestern coalfields are “rapidly deteriorating,” according to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).

Black Lung Benefits Act gets a boost

May 6, 2016

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has issued a final rule that revises the Black Lung Benefits Act in order to give miners greater access to their health information.

Miners: Blankenship’s prison term is “outrageous”

April 7, 2016

The one year sentence handed down yesterday to former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship for his role in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster is not enough, say miners and occupational safety advocates.

Bankrupt coal company to pay millions to its top executives

January 21, 2016

Coal miners who are being stripped of medical benefits due to a string of coal company bankruptcies are furious over one firm’s plan to pay millions in bonuses to the executives who managed the company as it failed financially.

Retired miners left out of 2016 spending bill

"What is it about these senior citizens Congress doesn’t like?"

December 23, 2015

Retirement security for tens of thousands of retired coal miners and their dependents failed to make it into the $1 trillion+ spending bill recently passed by Congress – an omission that angers the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA).

Obama unveils plan to drastically reduce emissions from power plants

Calls climate change a threat to the future

August 4, 2015

In a move expected to result in years of legal wrangling, President Obama yesterday announced the most ambitious plan yet to sharply cut carbon pollution emitted by power plants.

Clean air versus jobs

Coal workers object to anti-coal initiative

May 11, 2015

Recent contributions totaling $60 million dollars to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign -- including a hefty donation from former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg -- are angering the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), which calls the campaign an attack on coal miners and their families.

West Virginia bill would weaken mine safety laws

February 18, 2015

Backers of H.B. 2566, a measure which is advancing through the West Virginia State Senate and House of Delegates, say it would make the state’s mining industry more competitive.

Coal miners rally against EPA’s Clean Power Plan

Regs aren't the only factor threatening coal jobs, though

July 30, 2014

The EPA wraps up four days of public hearings on its Clean Power Plan today -- and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) rally against it tomorrow in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.