United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) officials say they appreciate David Zatezalo’s willingness to meet with them last week, but they haven’t yet decided how they feel about Donald Trump’s nominee for Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) chief.

More than 22,000 retired miners and their dependents will lose their health care benefits on April 30, 2017 unless Congress passes the Miners Protection Act. Miners who for years accepted lower wages in exchange for lifetime health benefits are faced with the loss of the benefits due to the bankruptcies of a number of mining companies.

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).

One year ago this month, the landmark respirable dust rule went into effect, adding a number of increased protections for coal miners and closing several loopholes that masked their exposure to unhealthy coal mine dust.

The following was posted on Saturday, Dec.  6: One hundred seven years ago today in Monongah, West Virginia, 362 coal miners – many of them teenage boys — went to work and never came home. That morning, an explosion ripped through two connected mines.

The American Industrial Hygiene Association is putting together a U.S. delegation to a conference and professional development program taking place in Beijing, China from September 20-27 of this year.