Coal Miners Under Siege: The Perfect Storm of Job Losses and Safety Threats

Ladies and Gentlemen, BUYERS BEWARE! The coal industry is under attack, and it's not just from environmental activists or market forces. No, this time, it's the government itself that's throwing punches. The Trump administration's recent actions are creating a perfect storm that threatens to destroy thousands of coal miners' jobs and put those who remain at grave risk. Let's break it down, point by point, because this is a crisis that demands your attention!

First, the Government Services Administration announced the potential closure of up to 34 MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) offices around the country. WHAT?! That's right, folks. The very offices responsible for keeping our miners safe are on the chopping block. And get this—they have no idea if or when they'll be moving to a new location or even if they'll have a job any longer. This is a disaster in the making, and it's happening right under our noses.

But wait, there's more! The USTR (United States Trade Representative) has proposed to impose up to $1.5 million in fees on Chinese-made ships that enter U.S. ports to take on materials, including coal. More than one-quarter of the coal produced in this country is exported, and most of it is carried on Chinese-made ships. This proposal is designed to help rebuild the American shipbuilding industry, which is a noble goal. But the reality is that it will add such significant costs to exported coal as to make it uncompetitive in the global marketplace. Mines will close, and thousands will be laid off—AND SOON!

And if that weren't enough, just today, at the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services, NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) began laying off hundreds of workers who are engaged in research and the improvement of products and practices that literally save the lives of coal miners every day. The announced significant downsizing of offices in Morgantown, W.Va., and Pittsburgh, Pa., are particularly devastating to the coal industry, which relies on the research done there to improve its safety practices.

Now, let me be clear: I do not think that these actions are being done in a coordinated way to hurt the American coal industry and those who work in it. But that is the effect. Miners have and can continue to produce the materials to power American homes, produce American steel, and so many other products our society uses every day. They deserve answers from the administration as to why it appears there is now a target on their backs.

So, what can we do? We need to stand up for our miners, folks. We need to demand that the administration rethink these policies and find a way to support the coal industry without putting our miners' lives at risk. This is a crisis, and it's time for us to take action. Don't let the government's misguided policies destroy an entire industry and put thousands of lives in jeopardy. Stand up, speak out, and demand change—NOW!