January - February - United Mine Workers of America

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United Mine Workers journal UMWA Veterans...................................4 There are thousands of UMWA members who wore their nation’s uniform, serving in conflicts all over the world. The UMWA Veterans Leadership Committee is working to bring veterans issues to the forefront in Washington. Interview with President Roberts.......8 Our International President reflects on the victory of working families in the recent election and lays out the challenges our union faces in the coming year. We won! Now what?.........................10 The UMW Journal previews several of the pressing legislative priorities facing the UMWA and all working families in Washington. Departments Actively Retired................................ 9 Around Our Union.........................14 Our Health and Safety....................18 Poems/Books/Music...................... 19 Districts in Action.......................... 20 UMWA Health and Retirement Funds Reports............. 22 Cover Photo: Barack Obama takes the oath of office to become the 44th President of the United States. Photo by Kaveh Sardari for Page One. Annie Shelton (center) stands between President Roberts and Secretary- Treasurer Kane and is surrounded by almost all the International Headquarters staff at a celebration for her retirement in December 2008. Longtime UMWA receptionist Shelton retires If you have ever visited or called the UMWA’s International Headquarters over the last 30-plus years, chances are very good that you talked to Annie Shelton. After a long and much appreciated career, Ms. Shelton, who first came to work at the union during the presidency of Arnold Miller, retired at the end of 2008. The union’s long-time receptionist worked at the front desk and was the first voice and face most people came in contact with at the UMWA. She took that responsibility very seriously. “First impressions go a long way,” Ms. Shelton said. “I wanted to make sure that when people called on the phone with a question or came into the building, they had a good experience. Even when I wasn’t feeling so good or I was having a bad day personally, I always tried to help make their day a little bit better.” “I can’t remember a time that I have come to the office and not seen Annie,” President Roberts said. “Her long commitment to the UMWA, our members, their spouses and their families sets a standard every one of us strives to match. We will miss her a great deal, but we are also very happy that she will be able to enjoy a retirement she so richly deserves. UMWA Health and Retirement Funds reports included in this issue Annual reports for the various funds under the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds umbrella are included on pages 22 and 23 of this issue of the UMW Journal. This is in compliance with U.S. Department of Labor regulations that require dissemination of these reports either through the mail or by being printed in the union’s official publication. These reports contain important information about the status of the Funds and your rights under the law and should be retained for future reference. David Kameras Produced by the UMWA Communications Department: Phil Smith, Department Director, Editor; David Kameras, Communications Coordinator; Matt Alley, Communications Specialist; Thelma Blount, Department Secretary; GO! Creative, llc, Design Official Publication of the United Mine Workers of America, 8315 Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22031-2215, www.umwa.org © by the United Mine Workers of America. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. The United Mine Workers Journal (ISSN 0041-7327, USPS 649-780) is published bimonthly by the United Mine Workers of America, 8315 Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22031-2215. Periodicals postage paid at Fairfax, VA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to UNITED MINE WORKERS JOURNAL, Data Edit Department, 8315 Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22031-2215. Telephone: 703-208-7240. Subscription price: $10 per year to non-UMWA individuals, $25 per year to institutions, $100 per year to corporations. Dues-paying members and associate members receive the Journal free of charge. If this is a change of address, include the address label from the back cover of your Journal or your old address. Pursuant to Section 6113 of the Internal Revenue Code, we are required to notify you that membership dues paid to the UMWA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. 2 January/February 2009 • United Mine Workers Journal
letters [Ed. note: The UMW Journal received several letters in the wake of the 2008 elections. Here are a few of them.] Obama election brings hope I have been a coal miner for six years. I became a proud union member of Local 2300 on Apr. 23, 2007, and was offered the opportunity to work with the UMWA’s COMPAC committee in the recent election. I have to admit, my first choice for President was John Edwards. But as I witnessed now-President Barack Obama win the Democratic nomination for President, I was excited to learn that I would be a part of history. Working with the UMWA/ COMPAC allowed me to experience those who work so diligently to ensure our safety and security in union mines. This was also an opportunity to finally work on behalf of a politician who is not afraid to say he is for the working class and is pro-union. After listening to Barack Obama’s speeches on the need for workers’ rights, I knew we had someone willing to stand up for us. President Obama has said that he is for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). EFCA is the answer to those companies who choose scare tactics as a way to intimidate their employees. The need for a president who will recognize our rights and sign the EFCA into law has been fulfilled. The UMW Journal welcomes letters. Please include your name, address and local number and keep letters as short as possible. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Send to UMW Journal, UMWA, 8315 Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22301-2215 or email to: journal@umwa.org. The UMWA has a long and respected history of fighting for workers’ rights, and I was proud our union endorsed Barack Obama to be our 44th president. He will not allow the rights of working families to be trampled by those who see us merely as a source of profit. The time for working families is now. Al Loring L.U. 2300 It’s a new year and we have, thankfully, a new president of the United States. As Chairman of the Kentucky COMPAC Council and a member of the UMWA Pensioner Leadership Committee, I was pleased to see the UMWA’s strong endorsement and support for Barack Obama for president. President Obama is from a coal state, and he consistently supported coal and coal miners in his votes in the Illinois State Senate and the U.S. Senate. President Obama supports a strong future for coal through the development of carbon capture and storage technology. President Obama strongly supports the Employee Free Choice Act and has stated that if a majority of workers at a workplace want a union, they should have a union. Working families, including coal miners, throughout the country are experiencing tough times and genuinely need a U.S. president who cares about the people. I believe President Obama will do his best for the working people of the United States of America. I was pleased and proud that the UMWA leadership and membership had the courage to do the right thing for the members and families by not just supporting, but working for and voting for President Obama. Richard Litchfield L.U. 1802 I had the opportunity to watch the swearing in of President Barack Obama, and after seeing all the millions of people gathered in our nation’s capital and listening to his speech, I am feeling more confident than ever that Americans made the right choice in the election. And I am more convinced than ever that our union made the right choice by endorsing him. I know it may not have been easy for a lot of UMWA members to vote for Obama, and I know some didn’t. But I think most members did vote for him, and we’re happy we did. The inauguration of the first African-American as president of the United States made history, but there is more to it than that. It also marks the end of a presidency that has had working families and especially union members and our families square in their sights. Good riddance to George Bush, I say. If you listen to what President Obama has said since he’s been elected and look at the appointments he has made so far, you can’t help but see that he is going to work hard to fix the economic mess we’re in, and he’s going to respect labor and unions and help us to grow stronger. That will help all of us. Mark Dorsey L.U. 1702 United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2009 3
Page 1: January-February 2009 120th Year, N
Page 5 and 6: to ensure that veterans are honored
Page 7 and 8: “The future strength of our union
Page 9 and 10: Irvin Smith Former L.U. 1440 Presid
Page 11 and 12: Government in action by the collaps
Page 13 and 14: Government in action Michael Ryan,
Page 15 and 16: around our Union Phil Smith Monumen
Page 17 and 18: Celebrating King in the Big Easy ar
Page 19 and 20: Poems • Books • Music The Recor
Page 21 and 22: DISTRICTS in action District 31 The
Page 23 and 24: UMWA Health & retirement funds annu

January - February - United Mine Workers of America

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