January - February - United Mine Workers of America

to ensure that veterans are honored
for their sacrifices and receive the
benefits and services that a grateful
nation has promised them. The
group played an important role in
the last election by educating union
members about differing positions
on veterans issues held by the two
presidential candidates. Since then,
some 2,400 UMWA members have
joined the committee.
“Service veterans know what it’s
like to fight for a just cause, as well as
the need to work together and stay
united in the face of extreme challenges,”
said President Roberts, a
Vietnam veteran. “In a way, our union
is much like the Army. We draw from
each other’s unique backgrounds—
experiences which I believe are
enhanced by serving one’s country—
while providing mutual support to
pursue our objectives.”
Now, with the election behind
us, its founding members think there
is much work yet to be done. “I’m
sure there will be improvements in
the system under President Obama,
but there should be a continuing role
for the committee,” said Martin. “We
have a lot of veterans going through
veterans hospitals these days, and
they need help.”
“We need to have better veterans
benefits and better hospital care,” said
Cogar. “They’re understaffed and
need more equipment and medicine.”
“I think the committee is a good
thing,” said Brnusak. “We’ve got to
keep on talking about veterans benefits
so that people will listen.”
Other avenues
Another channel that can be used
by union veterans to voice their
concerns is the Vietnam Veterans of
America (VVA), the only national
Vietnam veterans organization congressionally
chartered and exclusively
dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans
and their families. VVA’s goals are to
promote and support the full range
of issues important to Vietnam veterans,
to create a new identity for this
generation of veterans and to change
public perception of Vietnam veterans.
With some 58,000 individual
members, 46 state councils and 630
local chapters, the organization is
strongly supported by the UMWA.
Although eventually,
the uniform is put away,
the commitment
to service and civic
duty it represents
is not.
“Our main efforts are on Capitol
Hill,” said John Rowan, VVA National
President and CEO. “We tackle
legislative issues and fight the VA
bureaucracy toward getting more
plentiful—and more effective—programs,
as well as larger budgets.
“Over the years, Agent Orange
and PTSD have taken their toll,” he
said. “In February we will be announcing
formation of a Veterans
Health Council, whose purpose
is to get health care providers to
reach out to veterans and to educate
them about problems they need to
look out for. Our contention is that
long-term PTSD leads to cardiac
arrest. We’re trying to create a
new branch of medicine—
military medicine.” Rowan’s
organization has also
worked with trade unions
to address occupational
health hazards.
But regardless of
how they make their
issues known, UMWA
Phil Smith
veterans draw on both their military
and union experiences to form a
powerful voice that helps to improve
the lives of this close-knit band of
brothers and sisters. “There’s more
than one way a decision is made
and advanced,” said Jack Simmons,
a member of L.U. 340 and a veteran
of World War II. “I was uneducated
when I went into the Army, but when
I came back, people were knocking
on my door, offering me work.
“Being a veteran commands
respect, and having served in two
local unions, as Recording Secretary
and President, I can say that being
a union activist does too,” Simmons
said. “There are different ideas
among different bodies of men and
women, and that shapes how you go
about getting your program across
to people. I learned much in my 42
months in the service, but I’m also
union head-to-foot, 62 years
of it. People
listen to
that.”
United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2009 5