January - February - United Mine Workers of America

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Dawn new of a era An interview with International President Cecil E. Roberts As new leadership takes the political reins in Washington, the UMW Journal sat down with President Roberts to discuss the state of the union and its near-term objectives. Phil Smith UMW Journal: Americans have just witnessed the historic inauguration of a new president who represents a dramatic change of direction for the nation. How will that change affect our members directly? President Roberts: Although the election of Barack Obama was great news for all working Americans, UMWA members have much to be particularly proud of. Hailing from a coal-mining state, President Obama plans to invest in the future of coal in America. His choice of Rep. Hilda Solis, a close friend of labor, to head the Department of Labor bodes well as we work with the new administration to gain an Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health who will be a true watchdog on behalf of miners. The new president has committed to reforming our nation’s health care system so that everyone who needs care will get it, and he will work hard to preserve Social Security and Medicare for our retirees. Perhaps most important, by supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, Obama plans to restore the right to organize and bargain collectively again in America, a right we have been denied for far too long. As our economy spins deeper into recession and millions of Americans are losing their jobs and homes, the case for union membership is the strongest since the 1930s, when the UMWA was the leader in building America’s labor movement, helping to create the now-endangered middle class in our country. I am proud that the UMWA was a leader in the fight to secure this victory. The UMWA released over 200 staff and members throughout the nation to work on Obama’s behalf through the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2008 campaign, helping him win several critical states in the election. And our members recognized who their real friend was in the campaign. In battleground states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Indiana, Colorado, you name it, UMWA members’ votes for Obama made a critical difference. UMW Journal: With a new administration and a new Congress in place, how will the UMWA be working on its highest legislative priorities? President Roberts: With the same level of determination and effort that has served us so well in the past— that helped us save the Coal Act and win passage of the MINER Act despite strong opposition from the most anti-labor White House in memory. Now we have to prepare for the biggest labor battle in more than 70 years: passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. For too long, employers have had a free hand to flout 6 January/February 2009 • United Mine Workers Journal
“The future strength of our union depends on our ability to organize new members.” labor law in this country with little expectation of receiving anything more than a slap on the wrist from federal agencies and courts. The Employee Free Choice Act would change that by giving employees the right to form a union at any workplace if a majority of workers sign a card saying that they want a union. For coal miners, it’s a matter of life or death. The fact is that 26 of the 29 coal miners killed on the job in 2008 were working in nonunion mines. Simply put, union mines are safer mines. With the Employee Free Choice Act, coal operators would no longer be able to fire union supporters almost at will. No longer would they be able to threaten to close mines if a union is organized. No longer would miners concerned about safety have to choose between keeping quiet and keeping their jobs, or speaking out and getting fired. And it’s no better for people who work in health care, manufacturing, even public sector jobs. The climate of fear when it comes to working people having a true voice on the job—no matter where they work—is bad and getting worse. We’ve got to reverse that. Already, the bad guys are circling the wagons. Big business groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are wielding a huge war chest to convince any wavering members of Congress that the Employee Free Choice Act would mark the end of civilization. Make no mistake—this will be labor’s biggest effort on Capitol Hill this year, and we intend to help lead that effort. The future strength of our union depends on our ability to organize new members. UMW Journal: Climate change, which has obvious bearing on the future of the coal industry, was much talked about during the presidential election. What is likely to take place on that front? President Roberts: We can expect several competing legislative initiatives to be introduced—some responsible, some not—and we intend to be a major player in that debate. During the last Congress, we strongly supported a bill introduced by Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) that offered a realistic approach to a growing problem. The bill recognized that our nation’s energy security needs will require domestic coal to fuel our electrical grid for decades to come. Importantly, it would have further protected the economy and workers if carbon emission controls exceeded expected costs, and linked U.S. climate change action with those of developing countries, where future greenhouse gas emissions growth will occur. Another bill we supported, introduced by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-Va.) which had strong bi-partisan support, promised to spur development of carbon capture and sequestration technologies, thereby protecting the environment, the nation’s economy “I am no stronger than the collective solidarity of our membership.” David Kameras and future coal jobs all at the same time. The reality is this: First, climate change will be addressed by Congress in some form either this year or next. Second, with coal accounting for much of the world’s electricity, including more than 50 percent in the U.S., simply walking away from using coal to generate electricity is a fantasy. I am cautiously optimistic that common sense will prevail, and common ground will be achieved. Make no mistake. The UMWA will not stand idly by and let our members become the fall guys for some misguided energy policy. We intend to fight hard to get our message out to both returning and new members of Congress, as well as with the new administration, to ensure that a practical solution, such as the earlier Bingaman- Specter and Boucher bills, is adopted. UMW Journal: Occupational health and safety are vitally important to every worker. Where do you see the new administration heading? President Roberts: I think we can expect to see a vast improvement under President Obama. But to tell you the truth, almost anything would be better than what American workers suffered over the past eight years. Only two months after first taking office, George W. Bush killed the ergonomics standard, which had been more than 10 years in the making and could have protected 1.8 million workers each year from repetitive strain United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2009 7
Page 1 and 2: January-February 2009 120th Year, N
Page 3 and 4: letters [Ed. note: The UMW Journal
Page 5: to ensure that veterans are honored
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
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Page 23 and 24: UMWA Health & retirement funds annu

January - February - United Mine Workers of America

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