UMWA: Fighting for the Future of Coal Miners

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is on the front lines of a battle for the future of coal miners. With the shift in political power in Washington, D.C., the union faces unprecedented challenges, but Secretary-Treasurer Brian Sanson is not backing down. "WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE ACTION TO SECURE THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND VOICE OF ALL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES," Sanson declares. The stakes are high, and the fight is far from over.

THE MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE UNION

The major issue facing our members working in the coal industry today are fuel switching by utilities and the amount of power plants that are actually closing across the country. We have less demand for our product within the coal industry than we have ever had before and challenges remain into the future about where our coal is going to be sold. We will continue to support the development and application of technology to ensure utilities can continue to use coal as a fuel as well as encourage government action to help those workers, families and communities that have already been devastated by the loss of coal jobs.

THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE

With the new administration, the enforcement of health and safety regulations, especially the silica dust rule, is under threat. Sanson expresses grave concerns: "We have a lot of concern. We have made a lot of improvements within health and safety in our union and across the industry. We have concerns that the silica rule will not be enforced and will not be funded. This will result in younger miners getting black lung, being exposed to silicosis and greatly increasing the number of deaths associated with underground mining. This is a very serious concern for the Mine Workers and it is something that is a challenge that remains in front of us to be addressed."

THE FIGHT FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY

The politicians on Capitol Hill who are okay with taking funding away from enforcing the rule are no different than the robber barons of old. They have no compassion and no care for workers; all they care about is the bottom line of companies and where their campaign contributions come from. The UMWA is fighting back, advocating for legislation that protects miners' health and safety. The Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act of 2022 (H.R. 6462) is a prime example of the union's efforts to secure the future of miners.

THE UNION'S FINANCES

The Union’s finances are strong. Obviously we have engaged in some major battles over the last several decades. The effort to pressure coal companies to pay $400 million into a VEBA to continue benefits, and then to pass legislation in Congress to preserve them cost a lot of money. Right off the heels of that, we go into a two-year strike with Warrior Met. We continue to fight and that will never change until we have the outcome that our members deserve in Alabama. We minimize the amount of money that we spend while still achieving our objectives, and we continue to do that.

GROWING THE UNION

Organizing is the lifeblood of every union. There is no question about that. Bringing the Navajo Nation back into the Mine Workers was a huge victory. We have had a lot of additional organizing; organizing state employees, public employees and private employees outside of the coal industry. That is the key to growth and our future.

THE ROAD AHEAD

2025 is going to be a difficult year. I see it as a year of workers’ rights being rolled back. I have a real concern that the legislation that we fought so hard for could become a line item on someone’s budget that could be marked out. That is not acceptable to this union. We are going to make sure that promise is kept. We have a lot of contracts. Some of the largest, obviously, is the national agreement with ACNR, but we also have a large contract expiring at the Cumberland Mine in Pennsylvania and mines in Alabama. We are still working to get an agreement our members will ratify at Warrior Met. We have real challenges ahead of us to secure contracts that are fair for our members. We have begun to get ready, and I believe that we will secure contracts for those operations.

THE FIGHT CONTINUES

The UMWA is not just fighting for coal miners; it's fighting for the future of all workers. The union's efforts to organize and grow its membership, particularly in sectors outside of the coal industry, are crucial for its long-term sustainability and influence in the labor movement. The UMWA's approach to advocating for legislation and regulations that benefit its members, engaging with lawmakers and regulators, empowering workers to become activists, and supporting workers in other sectors who face similar challenges is a testament to its commitment to the health, safety, and dignity of all workers.

The fight for the future of coal miners is far from over, but with leaders like Brian Sanson at the helm, the UMWA is ready to take on any challenge. Stay tuned for more updates on the union's efforts to secure the health, safety, and voice of all workers and their families.