January - February - United Mine Workers of America

January–February 2007 • 118th Year, No. 1

United Mine WorkersJOURNALCoal Act Saved! ...................................4Fourteen years after the Coal Act wasoriginally passed, Congress acts to providesecure funding for the UMWA Health andRetirement Funds, and for the first timeprotects the 1993 Fund.Our Local UNION HALLSL.U. 1501New, historic BCOA contract ..............7The union fulfilled the mandate of the 2006Convention by negotiating a new contractwith the BCOA that includes substantialwage increases, increases in pensions forcurrent and future retirees, improvementsin health care benefits and other gains.Diversity in the UMWA ......................10The UMWA delegation to the AFL-CIO’scelebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,was the largest in the labor movement anddemonstrated the union’s commitment todiversity and equality in our union and inour society.The L.U. 1501 hall serving UMWA members at Consol’s Robinson Run mine waserected in 1950. It was purchased in 1978 from L.U. 6593, to which miners atConsol’s Owings No. 32 mine belonged. It’s a block building, approximately 100’x 70’, with one small office used by officers, and will seat 300 people—more ifthey’re standing. It’s rented out to union-friendly organizations, although UMWAmembers have first rights.UMWA Career Centers Training ........12Heavy equipment and new miner trainingprograms are the latest initiativesby the Career Centers to help laid-offUMWA members, their families andtheir communities.DEPARTMENTSActively Retired ............................. 15Around Our Union ........................ 16Our Health and Safety .................. 19Districts in Action ......................... 20Cover photo: The union’s march on Washingtonin 2000 was one of many activitiesUMWA members, retirees and their familiestook on in our successful fight to savethe Coal Act. Photo by Earl Dotter.L.U. 7606When Luscar Coal Ltd. bought out Prairie Coal eight years ago, the UMWA localin Estevan, Saskatchewan, suddenly had over 300 members after the additionof the Prairie Coal workers, who had been previously represented by the UnitedSteelworkers. They bought this hall, which accommodates about 60 persons, andincludes offices and a kitchenette. It is frequently lent out to other unions in thearea, including the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Canadian Union ofPostal Workers and the Retail, Wholesale, Department Store Union.Produced by the UMWA Communications Department: Phil Smith, Department Director, Editor; David Kameras, Communications Coordinator;Thelma Blount, Department Secretary; GO! Creative, LLC, DesignOfficial 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 (ISSN0041-7327, 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 atadditional 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 associatemembers 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 forfederal income tax purposes.2 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

LETTERSFormer Horizon local thankful for Coal Act legislationDear President Roberts:Since our mine closed in September 2004, we have been burdened by theloss of our health care and what the future held for Horizon miners and ourfamilies. The union’s first efforts to save our health care through the SelectiveStrike fund gave us some room. Then you came up with funding methods thatallowed us to get into the 1993 Plan.That was a welcome relief but came with the reality that an ever-growingnumber of orphaned miners would drag it down. We just couldn’t see how youcould come up with another funding option because it looked like the legislativeeffort was dead in the water. Then came the election and its dramatic changes,then in the last legislative effort of the year the Coal Act funding gets put into afunding bill at the last minute.Then to add to the moment, you negotiated a Christmas contract thatincludes the elimination of the earnings limits language.For a guy and his fellow officers who probably haven’t had a good night’ssleep in months, we bet you sleep with a smile now! On behalf of all our localmembers, we thank you for fighting the fight and winning the battle for ourprecious health care coverage. God bless you and your fellow officers and staff.In Solidarity,The membership of L.U. 1423, District 12Pensioner happy aboutpension increasesI’m thankful and blessed to be amember of this great organization.I’ve been a believer in this union formany, many years.I want to thank our union president,Cecil Roberts, for negotiatingan increase in the pensions and keepingour health care for us and ourspouses. This action tells me that weretirees are indeed members of thisunion—we’re more than just a numberwaiting to be erased from a list.I’d like to see our union memberstake an interest in attending ourunion meetings. Attending meetingsand supporting our local union is aneeded asset to the UMWA.Homer ArnoldL.U. 2322, Bandy, VAWest Virginia children celebrate Miners DayWe, the Monongah Elementary 4th Grade students, would like to say thankyou for being the backbone of our great state. Thank you for what you do! Weappreciate you. Happy Miners Day.—Stephanie Shelosky Blickenstaff, 4 th grade teacher, Monongah, W.Va.United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 3

Coal Act Saved!LONG STRUGGLE ENDS IN HUGE VICTORYWhen Congress passed the Coal Act in 1992,many believed that retiree health care for retireesand their widows was secure forever. But itwasn’t. Court challenges, bad economic conditionsand the skyrocketing costs of providing health care soon put atrisk the benefits retired coal miners had earned through their sweat,blood and a lifetime of hard work.EARL DOTTERAnd for those who werecovered by the 1993 Benefit Fund,who were not part of the Coal Act,the situation was even worse. Thecontributions from the companiesthat funded their benefits simplywere not keeping up with escalatingcosts. By December 2006, benefitswere only months away from beingdrastically reduced.But then, in the last hours ofCongress’ 2006 session, the unionwon a secure, long-term solution tofunding for the Coal Act, one thatwill withstand legal challenges andcontinue to provide benefits to retireesand their widows. And, for thefirst time, the 1993 Fund is includedunder the federal Coal Act umbrella.“This is a tremendous andhistoric victory for our union, onethat we had been fighting for almostsince the Coal Act was passed in1992,” President Roberts said. “Itrepresents the pinnacle of years ofhard work and solidarity by ouractive and retired members, our officersand our staff.“It also resolved an extremelycontentious issue that allowed ourunion to focus on meeting the otherbargaining goals established at theconvention last April,” said Roberts.“With the challenge of addressing theshortfalls projected for our retiree4 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

health care plans off the table, wewere able to shift more of our attention—andthat of management—toincreasing wages and pensions andimproving working conditions.”‘Keep the Promise’The Coal Industry Retiree HealthBenefit Act of 1992 (Coal Act) wasenacted with bipartisan supportafter a federal commission foundthat changes in the coal industry, therapidly increasing cost of health careand conflicting court decisions hadmade it impossible for collective bargainingalone to adequately addressissues related to retiree health care inthe coal industry.The Coal Commission, establishedin 1991 after the Pittstonstrike, recommended that Congressplace a statutory obligation on currentand former signatories to theNational Bituminous Coal WageAgreement to pay for the health careof their former employees, preventemployers from dumping theirobligations on the UMWA Healthand Retirement Funds and providean alternative means of financingthe cost of “orphan retirees” whosecompanies no longer existed.With strong congressionalopposition to a general coal tax, acompromise was reached to financeorphans through the use of intereston monies held in the AbandonedMine Lands (AML) fund. Unfortunately,financing the Coal Act hasbeen an ongoing political issue, andthe overall situation was made worseby the bankruptcies of BethlehemSteel, Horizon Natural Resources andseveral other companies in the lastfew years, driving the 1993 Fund—which was never a part of the CoalAct—to the brink.As a result of these bankruptcies,the 1993 Fund beneficiaries morethan tripled to nearly 8,000 people injust five years—many more than hadbeen anticipated. Without includingthe 1993 Fund in the newlegislation, the level ofcontributions from theremaining companieswould not keep upwith the rising cost ofproviding benefits toall those participants,meaning drastic cuts.That’s why theUMWA took to thestreets and to the hallsof Congress, startingin 2000, mobilizingthousands of active and retiredmembers and building supportin coalfield communities to gain asecure source of funding.To make their voices heard,UMWA activists in recent yearsrallied and protested to restorebenefits to tens of thousands ofretirees. They were charged withtrespass for refusing to leave the“ This is a tremendousand historic victory forour union, one that wehad been fighting foralmost since the Coal Actwas passed in 1992.”—President Robertscorporate lobby of Bethlehem Steel.They stood shoulder-to-shoulderwith Horizon workers to win backtheir health care. They traveled,sometimes hundreds and thousandsof miles, to demonstrate their commitmentand solidarity. And someEARL DOTTERUnited Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 5

widows,” Roberts said. “It’s good toknow that, even in this day and age,a majority of our lawmakers still understandwhat a promise means.”“ Those who put their health, their limbsand their very lives at risk every dayto provide the foundation of our nation’s industrialmight and to fuel America’s electrical generationhave earned health care—guaranteed by the UnitedStates government—in their retirement years, andso have their spouses.” —The Coal Act 199212,000 rallied on the grounds of theU.S. Capitol, while union lobbyistsbuttonholed legislators inside—todemand that the federal government“Keep the Promise.”Congress finallystepped up“The promise was first made 60years ago by President Truman andrenewed in 1992 with the passage ofthe Coal Act,” Roberts said. “It said:Those who put their health, theirlimbs and their very lives at riskevery day to provide the foundationof our nation’s industrial might andto fuel America’s electrical generationhave earned health care—guaranteedby the United States government—intheir retirement years, andso have their spouses. Congress hasonce again reaffirmed that promise.”Roberts noted that key legislatorsfrom both sides of the aisle wereinstrumental in saving the Coal Act,including Senators Jay Rockefeller(D-W.Va.), Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), RickSantorum (R-Pa.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Chuck Grassley (R-Ia.) andMax Baucus (D-Mont.); and RepresentativesNick Rahall (D-W.Va.),Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) and JohnPeterson (R-Pa.).“The reauthorization of the AMLprogram includes funding mechanismsto continue to provide healthcare to retired coal miners and theirEARL DOTTERDoing things differentlyIn addition to fixing problems withfunding for the UMWA CombinedBenefit Fund and the 1992 BenefitPlan, the legislation for the first timeincludes the beneficiaries in theUMWA 1993 Benefit Plan.“These beneficiaries are minerswho worked for companies thatare no longer in business,” explainedSecretary-Treasurer Kane. “But justbecause their companies went outof business, it doesn’t mean that thegovernment’s promise to them wentaway too. Whether they retired 25years ago and were covered by theCoal Act or 10 years ago and coveredby the 1993 Fund, they earned theirhealth care with their sweat and insome cases their blood. And nowthey can rest assured that health carewill be there when they need it.”In all, the health care benefitsfor over 52,000 retired miners, theirspouses and their widows are secure,and will remain so for the foreseeablefuture.“For most pensioners in otherunions, the pension benefits youhave when you retire are the bestyou’re going to get,” said PresidentRoberts. “We do things differently inthe UMWA, and I am proud that ouractive members never forget thosewho came before us and handed thisunion to us. We owe our pensionersa debt we can never really repay—but we can and we will continue totry to help them whenever possible.That’s just what we’ve done, and youcan bet that we will continue to seeto it that these benefits remain stable,secure and safe.” ■6 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

Sealing THE DEALUMWA scores historic gains in new BCOA contractThanks to the support andsolidarity of membersunion-wide, the UMWAwon a new five-yearcontract with the BituminousCoal Operators Association(BCOA) that features major improvementsin wages and benefits.“This collective bargaining agreementis a landmark in the historyof our great union,” said PresidentRoberts. “Despite management’s attemptsto roll back the clock, thereare no concessions. In fact, this is thelargest increase in the total economicpackage for our members since the1974 agreement.“In an era when workers inother industries are being confrontedwith significant cuts in health carebenefits and pension benefits—ifthey can hang onto those benefitsat all—this agreement representsa significant departure from thattrend,” Roberts said. “There are nogivebacks in this agreement. Thereare only gains for current members,retirees and their families.”The UMWA not only preservedcurrent health care coverage for activeand retired members, but mademajor improvements as well, includingeliminating the earnings limit forretiree health care for those receivinghealth care from their employer. Underthe new contract, current retirees’pensions will be increased by $15 permonth immediately, with anotherincrease later, and the active pensionbenefit rate will be increased by $10per month, per year for all service.Further, the union negotiated the“There are no givebacks inthis agreement. There are onlygains for current members,retirees and their families.”—President Robertsmost significant wage increase in over30 years, with a $4 per hour raise overthe life of the contract and a $1000wage bonus to be paid immediately.There are also significant gainsin other areas, including a newDAVID KAMERASUnited Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 7

graduated vacation day for minerswith 19 or more years of service,substantial increases in the pensioncontributions from employersamounting to over $500 millionover the life of the agreement, andno changes to the 20-and-out and30-and-out pensions. Increases werealso negotiated in AD&D payments,Sickness and Accident insurance,vision and dental care, the clothingallowance and more.Despite the fact that ConsolEnergy, the union’s largest employer,is the sole remaining member ofthe BCOA, the contract, which wasratified by 80 percent of the membership,is serving as the blueprint“We had a mandate fromour members…to improvepensions, improve payand maintain health carefor active and retiredcoal miners and theirdependents.”—President Robertsfor agreements with the other mineoperators. For example, Jim WalterResources (JWR), which employsabout 1,000 UMWA members inAlabama, has signed an agreementthat mirrors the gains contained inthe BCOA deal. JWR and the formerBCOA companies participate inthe UMWA Health and RetirementFunds, and are therefore bound bythe pension improvements containedin the BCOA agreement.A long and difficult processGetting the deal was a long anddifficult process involving manymonths of tough, hard bargainingthat took the union up to the brinkof the Dec. 31 expiration of the earlieragreement. And, it was obtainedin an environment in which workersacross America were increasinglypressured by their employers to acceptreductions in wages, pensionsand health care.“We came to the table fullyexpecting the BCOA to take the sameapproach,” Roberts said. “They sawthe givebacks workers in other industriesare forced to make, and theyfigured, well, why not in coal too?But they soon saw that the UMWAwasn’t interested in talking aboutgivebacks, because we had a mandatefrom our members, voiced atour convention last year: to improvepensions, improve pay and maintainhealth care for active and retired coalminers and their dependents.”The last few years have beensuccessful ones for America’s coalcompanies. Coal prices reachedhistoric highs, and companies madea lot of money. The UMWA insistedthat they should share some part ofthat profit with those who createdthe wealth, the miners.In this, the union got some helpfrom Congress. Just before the BCOAagreement was signed, Congresspassed legislation that will providesecure funding for all UMWA retireescovered by the Coal Act. And for thefirst time, retirees who receive theirbenefits from the 1993 Benefit Planwill be included under the federalCoal Act umbrella, meaning theirbenefits will be secured and guaranteedby the federal government [seestory, page 4].“Getting long-term protectionfor the Coal Act was a tremendousvictory for our union,” said Secretary-TreasurerKane. “It is a fittinglegacy for our brave brothers andsisters who picketed and went tojail—at Pittston, in the 1993 strike,at Bethlehem Steel, at Horizon—toensure that our retirees wouldcontinue to receive their benefits.And, it reflects the hard work of ourCOMPAC members, activists andlobbyists, who repeatedly traveled toCapitol Hill to keep the supplementalfunding flowing, and to finally getthis problem solved.”As the UMW Journalgoes to press, the unionis pressing other coaloperators to sign theBCOA agreement.“Now is the time for theremaining operators, whoseworkers have toiled withouta contract since the yearbegan, to come on boardand sign this agreement,”President Roberts said.“We sincerely hope we canreach an agreement withthose other companies assoon as possible, but weare preparing and trainingour local union leaders andmembers for the alternativein case we cannot.”8 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

AnHistoric ContractAN INTERVIEW WITH President RobertsThe UMW Journal recently satdown with President Roberts todiscuss his appraisal of the BituminousCoal Operators Association(BCOA) contract and negotiationswith other coal companies.How do you view the new BCOAQ. agreement?It is the strongest contract inA. decades. We had a mandatefrom the delegates to our conventionlast April to improve pensions andpreserve health care. Our rank-andfilemembers had also made it clearthey expected a significant increasein wages. We were able to achieve allthose goals, and then some.How did the legislative victoryQ. with the Coal Act funding makea difference?From almost the moment theA. Coal Act was passed back in1992, there have been attacks on itPHIL SMITHand its funding. Many of us werepart of the struggle to defend it. Wewere on the picket line at Pittston,where 4,000 of us went to jail fightingfor health care. We were on thepicket line again in ’93. We protestedand went to jail when they cut off retirees’health care at Bethlehem Steel,and again at Horizon.But then, in one of its final actsbefore adjourning last year, Congressprovided secure funding for allUMWA retirees covered by the CoalAct for the foreseeable future. Andthey went even further. For the firsttime, retirees who receive their benefitsfrom the 1993 Benefit Plan willbe included under the federal CoalAct umbrella. Thanks to the long andhard work of our union activists andlobbyists, we were then free to focuson improving pensions and wagesand other issues that were importantto our members.There are still some of theQ. former BCOA companies thathaven’t signed the contract. What’sthe UMWA’s response?We are telling those companiesA. to sign quickly or face somepretty unpleasant consequences.Bargaining last year was complicatedby an exodus from the BCOAthat left Consol Energy as its soleremaining member. Nonetheless,those companies are still part ofthe UMWA Health and RetirementFunds, and are required to abide bythe pension improvements containedin the BCOA deal. That is one reasonwhy we negotiated with Consol first.We have reached agreementswith several non-BCOA companies.However, others have not agreedto the contract. Those companiesneed to know that there is a limit toour patience.Thousands of UMWA membershave been working under the termsof the old BCOA contract since theyear began. That situation can’t goon for much longer. We are tellingthese holdout operators to come onboard and sign this agreement assoon as possible. We are also lettingthem know that we are preparingand training our local union leadersand members for the alternative incase they do not.It’s my sincere hope that by thetime this issue of the UMW Journalgets into members’ mailboxes, we’llhave agreements with all the othercompanies. We’re working very hardto do that.But if the companies don’t stepup to the plate, then the membersat those companies where there isno agreement need to be preparedfor the next step, and we will betalking with them and their localunion leaders about what that stepmay include. ■United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 9

Diversity in the UMWAUMWA delegation leads the way at AFL-CIOMARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., celebration and conferenceUMWA leaders andrank-and-file membersfrom acrossthe country joinedhundreds of unionmembers in January at a celebrationof Martin Luther King, Jr., in Houston,Tex., sponsored by the AFL-CIO.The 40-strong UMWA delegationwas the largest delegation atthe event and demonstrated onceagain the diversity and the unity theUMWA is known for throughout thelabor movement.“This is a truly great event,” saidL.U. 7635 member Barbara Ward.“We learned a lot, worked hard doingcommunity service and representedthe UMWA well.”The 40-strong UMWA delegation…demonstrated once againthe diversity and the unity the UMWA is known for.Education, communityservice, union powerThe opening session included a presentationabout the trade union rolein rebuilding the Gulf Coast in thewake of Hurricane Katrina. Anotherpresentation from the Coalition ofBlack Trade Unionists and TransAfricaForum was about the government suppressionof unions and union membersin the African nation of Zimbabwe,including a video that showed thearrests and beatings of union membersdemonstrating for their rights.The next day was highlightedby a speech from the Rev. JosephE. Lowery, President Emeritus ofthe Southern Christian LeadershipConference and a friend of MartinLuther King, Jr. Members then wentto workshops on issues such as theattacks on voting rights, the impactof the global economy on jobs andhuman rights and current developmentsin the civil rights struggle.Then, the UMWA delegationparticipated in a day-long communityservice project, cleaning up andrenewing a Houston city park. “Itwas hard work, but it was worth it,”said L.U. 1501 member James Parker.“We cleaned up that park for thecommunity to use, and they let usknow they appreciated it.”UMWA members cleaned andpainted barbeque grills, built parkbenches, landscaped around a parkpavilion and cleared a sidewalk thatwas filled in with dried mud andovergrown with weeds. “Some of thatdried mud was like concrete,” saidL.U. 1620 President Marie Justice.“But after we were finished with it,that sidewalk looked brand new.”10 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

The UMWA delegation participated in a day-long communityservice project, cleaning up and renewing a Houston city park.MARY PARKERPHIL SMITHHonoring Dr. KingOn Jan. 15, the UMWA delegationheard a moving speech fromAFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer andUMWA President Emeritus RichardL.Trumka about how the partnershipbetween the labor movement and thecivil rights community brought victoryfor working families at the pollslast November.The UMWA delegates thenjoined over 1,000 union membersand thousands more from theHouston community, braving freezingtemperatures and driving sleetto march in the city’s Martin LutherKing, Jr., holiday parade.“The marchers in that paradetruly represented the labor movement,”said L.U. 7635 memberRobert Wade. “We were all races,all colors, from different industriesand unions. But we were speakingwith one unified voice. It’s all aboutworking people sticking together andstanding up for one another. We’vedone that in the UMWA for a longtime now, and coming to events likethis one makes me proud to be aUMWA member.”“The UMWA has led the wayin racial diversity and equality inthe labor movement for 117 years,”President Roberts said. “When thosedelegates to the first UMWA conventiongot together in 1890, they tooka tremendous and unprecedentedstep forward by making sure thatour union would not tolerate discriminationagainst any member, forany reason.“We still hold to those principlestoday,” Roberts said. “And we will never,ever abandon them. In the memoryof all those who have come beforeus in our union, and in the memoryof Dr. King and his struggle to bringequality and justice to our society asa whole, the UMWA will continue tobe a leader. It is our responsibility asUMWA leaders, as UMWA membersand as trade unionists. In the face ofthose who continue to try to divide usin any way they can, there can be noturning back.” ■PHIL SMITHPHIL SMITHTop: L.U. 9909 member Tanya James(left) and L.U. 1620 President MarieJustice (right) clear a long-buriedsidewalk.Bottom: L.U. 7918 member Ed Scottworks to rebuild a park bench.“ We were all races, allcolors, from differentindustries and unions. Butwe were speaking with oneunified voice. It’s all aboutworking people stickingtogether and standing upfor one another.”—Robert Wade, L.U. 7635L.U. 7635 member Barbara Wardlevels dirt around a picnic area as partof the community service project.United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 11

UMWA Career CenHEAVY EQUIPMENT and NEW MINER TRAINING PIt looks like just another jobsiteas you drive by—yellowdozers and graders at work,moving earth. Then younotice something: This isn’tjust any old earth they’re moving, it’sa slate dump. And then you see thesign: “UMWA Career Centers HeavyEquipment Training.”Drive onto the property justoutside Marianna, Pa., and you’ll experiencean entirely new concept inheavy equipment training, one that ispreparing laid-off UMWA membersand others from the coalfields for acareer that could change their lives,and the lives of their families. They’redoing something lasting, and goodfor their community as well.“These trainees are actually buildinga ball field and a soccer field that willbe available for this community forgenerations to come.”PHIL SMITH—Steve Ziats, UMWA Career CentersSenior Project ManagerLearning while doing“This is the only hands-on heavyequipment training I’ve ever seenwhere students are actually doingsomething besides pushing a pipe ora pile of dirt around a parking lot,”said Steve Ziats, the UMWA CareerCenters Senior Project Managerin charge of the training program.“These trainees are actually buildinga ball field and a soccer field that willbe available for this community forgenerations to come.”Funded by a grant obtained byU.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) andwith assistance from the PennsylvaniaDepartment of Environmental Protection,the program is leveling an old12 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

ters IN ACTIONROGRAMS helping coalfield families, communitiescoal waste pile left decades ago on thesurface of a long-shut down mine.The first order of business wasto remove the thin trees, underbrushand weeds that had overgrown theunstable waste piles. Then, the workof leveling the piles and shaping theland to accommodate the playingfields and a parking lot began.“This program is accomplishingthree good things at once,” saidSecretary-Treasurer Kane. “We’regiving people training that they canuse for their future careers, we’recleaning up an environmental hazardand we’re building something that“It’s not just classroomtraining, it’s hands-on.We’re getting a lot ofexperience here that peoplein other training programsjust aren’t getting.”—Michael Kasula, 19this community will use for years tocome. These are the sorts of thingsthe UMWA does that nobody reallyknows about, and it’s time we startedgetting that message out.”Michael Kasula is a 19-year-oldresident of Marianna whose father,uncle and grandfather were allUMWA members who worked in thePHIL SMITHTop right: Michael Kasula. Above: Students work on leveling the coal waste pile at theCareer Centers training site outside Marianna, Pa.now closed Marianna mine. “Thistraining has been very good,” he said.“It’s not just classroom training,it’s hands-on. We’re getting a lot ofexperience here that people in othertraining programs just aren’t getting.“This is my town,” Kasula said.“I’m glad I’ve had the chance to workon this, to do something good for thecommunity. This is going to be herefor a long time. Who knows, maybemy kids will be playing on thesefields some day.”Kasula said that his impressionof the UMWA before he got involvedin the training program was thatthe union was mainly “for the olderguys—you know, taking care of theirpensions and stuff like that. But Iknow now that the UMWA doesgood things for people like me whoare just starting out. They get goodbenefits, good pay and good workingconditions for people. That’s what Iwant.” He now plans to use his newskills to try to get a union job at amine while going to college to earnan associates degree.Changing livesfor the betterConnie Smith is a single motherof four who owns a body shop butwanted to be able to get a more secureway to support her family. “The jobmarket in this area is very depressed,”United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 13

Above: The interior of the Career Centers’ underground training “maze.” Below left: Connie Smith.PHIL SMITHPHIL SMITHshe said. “Thistraining willreally make adifference forall of us tohelp us get ajob, take careof our familiesand contribute toour towns. I hope it helps the communityrebound, because we sure canuse that around here.”“I’ve got lots of opportunitiesto do things now that I didn’thave before. It’s going tomake a real difference forme and my family.”—Connie Smith, studentSmith said she didn’t knowmuch about the UMWA before sheentered the training program, butnow, “I’ve got a great impression ofthe union. What they’ve done forme and for this community is reallygreat. Nobody has ever taken up forus like that before. I won’t forget it,and people around here won’t either.”Smith is hoping to get a surfacemining job running dozers, and perhapssaving enough money to buy herown equipment and opening her ownbusiness. “I’ve got lots of opportunitiesto do things now that I didn’t havebefore,” she said. “It’s going to make areal difference for me and my family.”New miner trainingdone the right wayStand outside the UMWA CareerCenters’ new miner training “maze” inRuff Creek, Pa., and it looks like someonehas hung ventilation curtains uplike laundry on a line. But step inside,and you instantly get the feel of howthis facility can be used to give newminers a good understanding of whatthey’ll be facing underground.“Nothing can replace actuallybeing underground,” said ClemmyAllen, the UMWA Career Centers ExecutiveDirector. “This is the next bestthing, though. The trainees are gettingthe classroom training they need to becertified, and they’re getting handsonexperience with the jobs they’ll bemost likely to do when they’re workingas new miners underground.”“What we’re doing through theCareer Centers training program isthe best way to train new miners,”President Roberts said. “They’relearning how to work safe and howto do the job right from highly qualifiedpeople who know what they’redoing. The best part is, they’re gettingit in a UMWA-friendly setting.“It’s important for the future ofour union that as many new minersas possible know and understandthe benefits of being in the UMWAfrom the moment they set foot ina mine,” Roberts said. “There willlikely be tens of thousands of newminers entering the workforce injust the next few years. We needto make sure they know about theUMWA and what it means to be inthe union. This program is a greathelp in doing that.” ■14 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

activelyRETIREDLee PotterLee Potter has only one hobby: theUMWA. “The union’s been mylife, all my life,” he said. “I wouldn’thave it any other way.”Potter started out in 1965 workingnonunion at Elkhorn Coal Co. inLetcher County, Ky. But three yearslater, he joined L.U. 1340 (formerDistrict 6), and went to work in PeabodyCoal’s Sunnyhill undergroundmine near New Lexington, Ohio,where he worked as a general insidelaborer, shuttle car operator andloading machine operator. Memberselected him both President and VicePresident of his local union, and healso served as Mine Committeemanand Safety Committeeman.Working at a union operationwas a revelation to Potter, comingfrom a mine where miners had to dowhatever they were told, no matterwhat it was. “When I went to workat Peabody, it was a whole differentworld working union, as opposed tononunion,” he said. “You had a joband you did it, but you didn’t haveto do everybody else’s job too. Therewas more money and better benefits.And when it came time to retire, Ihad a pension. I wouldn’thave had anything if I wasworking nonunion.”In 1974, Potter joinedthe UMWA Internationalstaff as an organizer. He wentback to the mine again in1982, then three years laterreturned to organizing untilhis retirement in 1996. Marriedwith five children andnow a member of L.U. 1569,he lives in Lebanon, Va.But with his continuedfocus on the union, Potterhardly lives a life of leisure.“Since I retired, I help onorganizing drives, I make housecalls, and I go to all the rallies wehave in our area here,” he said. “I’mactive in the COMPAC Committee,because it’s very important for the“Health care and having a pension you can depend on—that’s what Mine Workers get, andthat’s what we tell nonunion miners.”union to get out the word. We needto get people elected who are goingto help the working person. That’swhy I’m on the Russell CountyDemocratic Committee.”“I’ve known Lee for a prettygood while,” said InternationalDistrict 17 Vice President Joe Carter.Actively Retired is a regular feature highlighting UMWA retirees still workingon behalf of the union. If you’d like to recommend a retiree to appear in ActivelyRetired, write to the UMW Journal, UMWA, 8315 Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA22031, Attn: Actively Retired. Please include your name, local union, a telephonenumber and a brief explanation of why you’re nominating the individual.“He’s been a good friend, and is alwaysthere to help us, no matter whatthe issue is.”Of all of Potter’s union activities,there’s a special place in his heart fororganizing. “The bigger the groupwe have, the stronger we are. That’sone reason why organizing is soimportant,” he said. “Besides, noother union takes care of its memberslike the UMWA. Health care andhaving a pension you can dependon—that’s what Mine Workers get,and that’s what we tell nonunionminers. Once they’re settled in at aunion mine, they’d never want to goanywhere else.”“Lee’s a member of our PensionerLeadership Committee andhas been real active in organizingsince retiring,” President Roberts said.“He’s always trying to help the UnitedMine Workers. I couldn’t be prouderof him. Having people like Lee in thisorganization is one of the things thatmakes the UMWA great.” ■15 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 15

aroundOUR UNIONRobena disaster rememberedSecretary-Treasurer Kane was thekeynote speaker at the UMWA’sannual ceremony to remember the37 miners killed at the Robena mineon Dec. 6, 1962.Over 150 UMWA leaders, workers,retirees and theirfamilies gathered atthe Robena memorialoutside Carmichaels,Pa., to hear Kane’smessage of the needfor renewed UMWAand labor solidarityand strength at theworkplace and theballot box so that disasterslike Robena willnever happen again.Secretary-TreasurerKane speaks atRobena Memorialceremony.Tell it to the judgeTwo years ago, former employeesof Horizon Natural Resourceswere left in the cold and looking forjobs after a bankruptcy judge let thecompany walk away from our contractand its health care obligations byclosing the Cannelton Mine. A trial bythe National Labor Relations Board(NLRB) against Massey Energy beganJan. 22 in Montgomery, W.Va., that isAs the names of the dead wereread, wreaths from the InternationalUnion, District 2, L.U. 1980 and thefamilies of those lost were laid nextto the monument.International District 2 VicePresident Ed Yankovichalso spoke at the event,which was emceedby UMWA SpecialCoordinator to theInternational PresidentClemmy Allen. At theend of the ceremony,the fallen were honoredwith a stirring renditionof Amazing Grace,a 21-gun salute and theplaying of Taps.PHIL SMITHPHIL SMITHshining a light on the depths to whichthe company is willing to sink to keepthe union off of its property.The NLRB charged Massey withdiscriminating against miners byrefusing to hire them because theywere members of UMWA L.U. 8843.Massey was trying to avoid itsobligation to recognize and bargainwith the union when it bought theDiabetic minertells his storyEach morning, L.U. 1702member Raymond Copeland,Jr.’s wife kisses him goodbye andsays “be careful.” She’s worriedabout more than the occupationalhazards of coal mining. Since Julyof 2005, “Junior,” as he is called, hashad to battle more than the inherenthazards of working three milesunderground—he has had to managethe day-to-day control of histype 2 diabetes. Copeland’s storywas featured on dLifeTV, a nationaltelevision show, and shown Jan. 21on CNBC.“Junior is a great role model,”said Howard Steinberg, creatorof dLifeTV. “He has lost over 70pounds, exercises every day, eatsright and continually strives tokeep his diabetes under control.”Copeland, a miner since 1981 wholives in Blacksville, W.Va., said,“From the classes I took and whatI read, you can control it and live anormal life.”mine out of bankruptcy in 2004.The UMWA is an intervener inthis case.Several former Cannelton miners,as well as Massey Energy officials—includingChairman and CEODon Blankenship—are expected totestify in the trial, which is expectedto last for a number of weeks overthe next few months.16 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

aroundOUR UNIONMarching in on MSHACoal miners from West Virginia,Pennsylvania and Ohio ralliedOct. 24 outside of a Mine Safety andHealth Administration (MSHA)district office in Morgantown, W.Va.,calling on Richard Stickler, the newagency head, to beef up enforcementof mine safety laws and regulationsin the wake of dozens of recentdeaths in American coal mines.“Now is not a time for halfmeasuresand a go-slowapproach….The time fortalking about it is over.The time for doing somethingabout it is now.”—Secretary-Treasurer KaneWithin minutes, MSHA officialscontacted Stickler and secured hisagreement to meet with UMWA safetyofficials in the Washington, D.C.,area, as well as with rank-and-filemembers in the nation’s coalfields.The miners demandedthat Stickler,who was formerlythe head of thePennsylvania Officeof Deep Mine Safetyand had consistentlyput production aheadof safety:◗◗◗PHIL SMITHSet a timetable forhiring additionalMSHA inspectorsto address theagency’s woeful lack of front-linepersonnel enforcing safety lawsand regulations in America’scoal mines;Review the proposed safety regulationsthat were dropped by theBush administration in 2001,because many of them could haveplayed a crucial role in savingmany of the lives lost in minessince then; and,Step up efforts to test the self-containedself-rescuer oxygen unitsminers carry underground in theUMWA members enter MSHA’s district office inMorgantown, W.Va., to present mine safety demands.wake of numerous reports offailures of these units in the Sagoand Darby tragedies, and significantnumbers of failures of theunits in testing done by the statesof West Virginia and Kentucky.“Now is not a time for half-measuresand a go-slow approach,” saidSecretary-Treasurer Kane. “Minersare dying at rates unseen in years, andMSHA is the agency charged withpreventing those deaths. The time fortalking about it is over. The time fordoing something about it is now.”John L.’s old Virginia homeTo Revolutionary War buffs, it wasthe land sold in 1784 by Gen.“Light Horse Harry” Lee, father ofRobert E. Lee, to his cousin, PhilipRichard Fendall. The structureFendall built housed 37 members ofthe Lee family for over 118 years. ToUMWA members however, the Lee-Fendall House in Alexandria, Va., wasthe home of International PresidentJohn L. Lewis, who lived there from1937 to 1969.The house, now a museum thatusually focuses on mid-19th Centuryhistory, is opening a permanentexhibit later this year featuring textpanels, photographs, media accounts,political cartoons and other itemsto document the great labor leader’scontributions to the 20 th Century. JohnL. Lewis: A Colossus of American Laborwill be supplemented by a descriptivebrochure, a youth-focused workbook,specialized tours and a lecture seriesoffering information about the lifeand legacy of Lewis, the history of theUMWA and the CIO and Lewis’ rolein these organizations, the Lewis familyin Alexandria, the role of womenin the labor movement and the use ofmusic and the arts to strengthen thelabor movement. Some 10,000 visitorsare expected annually.For further information, call703-548-1789 or log onto www.leefendallhouse.org.United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 17

aroundOUR UNIONDefending America’s VeteransAmerica’s veterans have “sacrificedmore than we can ever repay, butthat doesn’t mean we shouldn’t dowhatever we can to help them nowand for the rest of their lives,” PresidentRoberts said at a Jan. 16 townhall meeting in the West VirginiaState Capitol. “These brave men andwomen answered their country’s call,and in so doing have left parts andpieces of themselves on battlefieldsacross the world. Our nation promisedto take care of their health carein return for their fight for freedom,and America must keep its promiseto them.”Roberts spoke at the “Conversationson the future for America’s veterans”town hall meeting in Charleston,sponsored by the Commissionon the Future for America’s Veterans,a private, independent group thatis examining what the needs of veteranswill be 20 years in the future,and making recommendations to thefederal government about how thoseneeds should be met.“There are thousands of youngmen and women who suffereddebilitating wounds in Iraq andAfghanistan that would have killedthem in previous wars,” Roberts said.“Our military hospitals are doing afantastic job to not only keep themalive but make them as whole as aperson who is missing limbs canbe. But then, once they’re physicallyhealed, many of these heroes arereleased with little or no support forwhat comes next–months and yearsof physical and mental therapy tohelp them become successful in jobs,in raising their families and in theircommunities. We have a moral andethical obligation to do better.”Roberts expressed support forproposals that would substantiallyrestore the comprehensive education,housing, employment and healthbenefits that were given to those whofought in World War II. “We mustnever forget nor diminish what ourveterans have done for us and whatthose who are in harm’s way rightnow continue to do for us,” he said.“The best way to do that is to makesure that our nation’s promise tothese brave men and women is kept.”UMWA members in theWest Virginia legislaturestand with the new speaker(from l–r): Majority Whipand L.U. 1570 memberMike Caputo, Speakerof the House RichardThompson, Del. MichaelBurdiss (L.U. 7086) andDel. Ken Tucker (L.U. 1473).Clemmy Allen, Special Coordinatorto the International President andExecutive Director of UMWA CareerCenters, presents the Johnny Popp LaborAchievement Award to Rep. John Murtha(D-Pa.) Oct. 20 in Champion, Pa.Teddy wouldbe proudThe AFL-CIO and severalaffiliates have joined withthe Theodore Roosevelt ConservationPartnership to formthe Union Sportsmen’s Alliance(USA), recognizing that manyunion members are both huntersand conservationists.According to AFL-CIOSecretary-Treasurer and UMWAInternational President EmeritusRichard L. Trumka, the newdues-based group will offer amagazine containing huntingand fishing advice, an interactivewebsite suitable for networkingwith others and discounts onoutdoor gear. A survey last yearfound that 70 percent of unionmembers hunt and fish, while 71percent do not belong to a similaroutdoors organization.18 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

ourHEALTH&SAFETYSafety training highlights mine emergency responseSafety training sessions held inOctober and November inBeckley, W.Va., and Washington, Pa.,included an increased emphasis onmine emergency response and trainingof International officers and staffand District representatives in beingfirst responders to a mine emergency.“Many times in a mine emergency,our staff in the District or Regionaloffices can get to the scene faster thanan international safety representative,”said Dennis O’Dell, Administrator ofthe UMWA Department of OccupationalHealth and Safety. “We want tomake sure that they’re fully trained inwhat to do when they get there–takingaccurate notes, participating inthe command center environmentand everything else.”Over 80 people participatedin the training at the Mine Safetyand Health Administration’s MineAcademy in Beckley. They receivedtraining on issues ranging fromthe regulations and inspections ofunderground diesel equipment tospecial inspection procedures forsurface mining operations. Eachparticipant also went through a MineEmergency Response Developmentexercise, simulating the steps unionsafety committeemen need to take inthe event of a disaster.Participants in the Joint IndustryTraining session in Washington, Pa.,heard presentations from UMWAand MSHA safety personnel on thenew MINER Act, and were trainedin preshift examinations, emergencyresponse and surface mining inspections,among other issues. They alsowent to the Pittsburgh ResearchLaboratory of the National Institute“Every miner was remindedlast year of just howdangerous a coal mine canbe when the company doesn’tdo all it is supposed to doto maintain a safe workingenvironment. “—Secretary-Treasurer Kanefor Occupational Safety and Health(NIOSH), where they saw demonstrationsof new ergonomic recommendationsNIOSH is developing, aswell as dust and noise control initiatives.They also received training onhow to change from one self-containedself-rescue (SCSR) device toanother during a mine evacuation.“This training is critically importantto our safety committees and ourstaff,” said Secretary-Treasurer Kane.“Every miner was reminded last yearof just how dangerous a coal minecan be when the company doesn’t doall it is supposed to do to maintain aA small controlledmethane explosiondemonstrated atNIOSH’s PittsburghResearch Laboratory.L.U. 1638 President Roger Sparks andSafety Committeeman Hoya Clemonslisten to a presentation at the JIT training.safe working environment. We knowwe can’t rely on the company all thetime, and we also know we can’t relyon the federal or state mine safetyagencies all the time.“That means it’s up to us toensure safety in the mines, and to beready to respond when an event occursthat is out of our control,” Kanesaid. “We will continue to do all wecan to prepare our members, not justfor what to do in case of an emergency,but also what they need to doto prevent those emergencies fromhappening in the first place.”PHIL SMITH19 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 19

DISTRICTSin actionDistrict 2L.U. 762 President Patsy Ricciutirecognized 67-year UMWA memberNick Encrapera at a recent local unionmeeting. Nick started in the minesin 1939 and worked at Vesta 4, Vesta5 and Bobtown minesfor Jones & LaughlinSteel Corporation. Hewas injured in a rooffall on June 20, 1972.Since his retirement, hehas remained active inNickEncraperathe UMWA as well asthe Democratic party inWashington County, Pa.Nick never misses a union meeting.His cousin, Richard Encrapera, alsoattends the meetings with him. At92, Brother Nick is one of the oldestmembers of the UMWA. The officers,staff and members of District 2 salutehim and wish him many, many moreyears of active participation in theUnited Mine Workers of America.Sub-District 26Pioneer Coal announced that it willbegin surface-mining early this yearInternational District 12 Vice President Roger Myers,President Roberts, LU 9819 President Jody Hogge,monument artist David Seagraves, District 12representatives Gary Butler and Steve Jones.at the former DEVCO Prince minesite in Nova Scotia, employing anestimated 50 miners. An automaticrecognition agreement and five-yearcollective bargaining agreement weresigned last November.District 12The Coal Miners Monument inUnion Cemetery located in Panama,Ill., was rededicated on Oct. 11, 2006.It was erected for the miners who losttheir lives in a 1915 methane explosionand is engraved with a quotationfrom John L. Lewis, who lived inPanama and served as President ofL.U. 1475 in 1910.President Roberts was the keynotespeaker at the Oct. 28 dedicationof the Battle of Virden Monumentin Virden, Ill. The monument paystribute to the coal miners who died inan 1898 gun battle with mine guardsas well as to the coal mining legacyin central Illinois. The sculptureincludes a depiction of the gun battleshowdown between the Chicago-Virden Coal Co., which reneged ona pay agreement, and union minerswho refused to accept paycuts. While union organizerMother Jones wasn’t presentat the battle, she was so movedby the miners’ resistancethat she asked to be buriednext to the miners killed inVirden. Following the dedicationservice, the 21st AnnualMother Jones Dinner was heldin Springfield, where PresidentRoberts was again the keynotespeaker. L.U. 9819 PresidentJody Hogge portrayed MotherJones at both events.Miners’ ReliefGrant FundThe Miners’ Relief Grant Fund hasbeen set up to help miners or theirimmediate families in West Virginia.The needs may include, but are notlimited to, education and/or vocationaltraining, as well as physical,emotional and spiritual needs. Thegrant program was established bythe Catholic Church in West Virginiain honor of those miners who losttheir lives in 2006, but one does nothave to be Catholic to apply. For moreinformation, contact the closest officeof Catholic Community Services, withlocations in Charleston, Clarksburg,Elkins, Hamlin, Parkersburg, Princeton,Romney and Wheeling.District 17Andrew J. Guy, Jr., whoturned 100 on Nov. 21, continuesto be a dues-paying memberof L.U. 1340. He went to work inthe coal mines of southeastern Ohioat the age of 14, and remained abachelor until 52, when he marriedand had three daughters.“Andy Guy” started as atrapper, and remembersthe tough times, such asloading coal by hand for$1.80 per ton, the numerousinjuries and deathsand the government strikeintervention during WorldWar II. He attributes hislongevity to hard work,and is grateful for the benefits thatthe UMWA has provided him andhis family.Andrew GuyDistrict 20On Nov. 22, District 20 officers andmembers as well as Alabama AFL-CIO officers and members traveledin a convoy to show our support andsolidarity to the 1,350 USW Local 12members on strike at the Goodyear-Gadsden Plant. We also deliveredcanned and dry goods to our Local12 brothers and sisters, along withfood and turkey certificates pur-20 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

chased from donations we receivedon their behalf to meet our goal ofhaving a turkey on the table of everyLocal 12 member for Thanksgiving.There were approximately 500union officers, members and familieswho gathered together in unitythat day, and we were so proud tostand side-by-side in solidarity andsupport of these brothers and sistersduring their fight.District 22L.U. 8935 awarded three $500 scholarshipsin 2006. Recipients are membersof the local or family members whoare furthering their education andare enrolled in at least one course.Fund-raisers, including bake sales andburrito sales, are held throughout theyear to raise money for the Scholarshipand Bereavement funds.On Oct. 15, 2006, InternationalDistrict 22 Vice President MikeDalpiaz presented over 180 retirementpins at a banquet for L.U. 1924.District 31At 102 as of Oct. 1, Lacy Hughart isbelieved to be the oldest member ofthe UMWA. A veteranof Federal #2 andmember of L.U. 1570,he started as a trapper atage 15 at a daily wage of$3. He later operated amotor, hauling coal carsto the outside. He wasnever injured duringmore than 40 years inthe mines, and has been a continuousUMWA member for 87 years.Lacy HughartDISTRICTSin actionHONORING OUR PENSIONERSUMWA District officials recently honored the following retirees for their yearsof service as members of the UMWA.70 Year Pins District 2 L.U. 1269 William R. Leksell L.U. 1412 Nelo Morganti District 12L.U. 1802 Howard Austin L.U. 7110 Don J. Deakin District 17 L.U. 2232 Billie Elswick, Banner V. SykesL.U. 5958 Ray Stallard L.U. 6196 James Harris L.U. 6633 Russell T. Herndon District 22 L.U. 6417Earnest Boedcher, Maurice Emmons, Charles Kloss, Tony Minerich, Raymond Orr, Joseph Ozbolt, NeloSeeronen, William Shew, Grover Smail60 Year Pins District 2 L.U. 6290 Pompeo Iacconi District 12 L.U. 1969 Ralph BradleyL.U. 7110 James L. Hart L.U. 9819 Eugene Phillips District 17 L.U. 0340 William J. Stone L.U. 1468 ErnestMullins L.U. 1971 Edward Cremeans L.U. 5958 Bill J. Belcher L.U. 6105 Sergio Boschin District 22L.U. 6417 Bernard Swoboda District 31 L.U. 1058 Walter P. Bernoski, William H. Trout L.U. 1501John W. Pyles L.U. 1949 Donald E. Brooks50 Year Pins District 2 L.U. 1248 Verl E. Dawson, Sr. District 12 L.U. 1092 Randell VaughnL.U. 1623 Theron J. Jennings, Earlene Wagoner L.U. 4343 William R. Rogers L.U. 9800 Odrey EmbreyDistrict 17 L.U. 0633 Richard Casto L.U. 1123 Harry White L.U. 1259 Larry L. Willis L.U. 1335 Charles W.Carnell L.U. 1440 William Hall L.U. 5958 Donald Grimmett District 20 L.U. 7813 Lambert W. Key District 22L.U. 1924 Thomas F. Ray L.U. 6417 Roland Usebelli L.U. 8622 Darel Behunin, Harold Guptill L.U. 9958Victor Pacheco, Sr. District 31 L.U. 1058 Kenneth E. Bedillion, Grant S. Deahl, Jack Ryan, Fred H.Summers, Ralph W. Summers Wayne W. Watts L.U. 4047 Boyd W. Starkey40 Year Pins District 2 L.U. 1248 Bernard Franczyk L.U. 1520 Vincent Rebar L.U. 4520Tony Ducette District 12 L.U. 1092 Barry Rose L.U. 1392 Glenwood O. Degenhardt L.U. 1410 WoodrowWest L.U. 1487 Delbert Brown L.U. 1802 David Lewis L.U. 2161 Paul E. Roberts L.U. 2412 Robert B. HillerL.U. 4343 Robert Royalty District 17 L.U. 1335 Bernard D. Hall, Howard McClung L.U. 5770 LawrenceSjurset L.U. 7950 Offie D. Johnson District 20 L.U. 1554 Jimmy Hamrick L.U. 1876 Kenneth E. CoffeeDistrict 22 L.U. 1307 George Olguin L.U. 6788 Alan Thomas L.U. 9856 James Armijo, Joseph G.Mondragon, Leroy G. Vigil District 31 L.U. 1352 Billy N. Hurd L.U. 1466 Charles D. Bever, Richard L.Fletcher, Bill E. Mullins, Kenneth F. Roberts, Carless C. Seabolt, Richard L. Underwood L.U. 1501Thomas E. West L.U. 4047 Ellsworth M. Jacques, James H. Robinette, Edward VasicekUnfortunately, due to the number of members receiving pins, the UMW Journal cannot run photos of pinrecipients. In order to receive a membership pin, you must submit an application to the District office.Pins are not automatically issued. Your district representative will send the names to the UMW Journal.One L.U. 1501 Harry Morris MemorialScholarship will be awardedfor the 2007-08 academic year. The$1000 scholarship is intended to helpa deserving high school senior or collegestudent pursue a degree in anyfield at an accredited college, universityor trade school.Any descendant of a Local 1501member (spouse, son, daughter,grandson or granddaughter) whohas been accepted at an accreditedcollege, university or tradeschool and has maintained a 3.0or above GPA is eligible to apply.Scholarship applications are availableby contacting Mike West, 42Little Sycamore Square, Fairmont,WV 26554, 304-366-4248, e-mailmaw551955@yahoo.com.United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 21

UMWA HEALTH & RETIREMENT FUNDS ANNUAL REPORTSSUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA1950 PENSION PLANhis is a summary of the annual report for the United MineTWorkers of America 1950 Pension Plan, EIN 52-1050282,Plan No. 001, for period July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005.The annual report has been filed with the Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, asrequired under the Employee Retirement Income SecurityAct of 1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementBenefits under the plan are provided through a trust fund.Plan expenses were $85,897,693. These expenses included$3,057,468 in administrative expenses and $82,840,225 inbenefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of26,935 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of theplan at the end of the plan year, although not all of thesepersons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities ofthe plan, was $373,236,386 as of June 30, 2005, compared to$427,846,430 as of July 1, 2004. During the plan year the planexperienced a decrease in its net assets of $54,610,044. Thisdecrease includes unrealized appreciation and depreciationin the value of plan assets; that is, the difference betweenthe value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year and thevalue of the assets at the beginning of the year or the cost ofassets acquired during the year. The plan had total income of$31,287,649 including employer contributions of $740,660,realized gains of $7,598,937 from the sale of assets, andearnings from investments of $22,948,052.Minimum Funding StandardsAn actuary’s statement shows that enough money wascontributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance withthe minimum funding standards of ERISA.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report,or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below areincluded in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment;4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets; and5. actuarial information regarding the funding of theplan.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or anypart thereof, write or call the office of Dale R. Stover whois Comptroller, UMWA 1950 Pension Trust, 2121 K Street,N.W., Washington, DC 20037, (202) 521-2200. The charge tocover copying costs will be $9.00 for the full annual report,or 12 cents per page for any part thereof.You also have the right to receive from the planadministrator, on request and at no charge, a statementof the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the planand accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy ofthe full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as part ofthat report. The charge to cover copying costs given above doesnot include a charge for the copying of these portions of thereport because these portions are furnished without charge.You also have the legally protected right to examine theannual report at the main office of the plan (UMWA 1950Pension Trust, 2121 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037)and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.,or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Laborupon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Departmentshould be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, RoomN1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20210.SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UNITED MINE WORKERS OF AMERICA1974 PENSION PLANhis is a summary of the annual report for the UnitedTMine Workers of America 1974 Pension Plan, EIN 52-1050282, Plan No. 002, for period July 1, 2004 through June30, 2005. The annual report has been filed with the EmployeeBenefits Security Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,as required under the Employee Retirement Income SecurityAct of 1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementBenefits under the plan are provided through a trust fund.Plan expenses were $564,511,835. These expenses included$32,889,978 in administrative expenses and $531,621,857in benefits paid to participants and beneficiaries. A total of115,646 persons were participants in or beneficiaries of theplan at the end of the plan year, although not all of thesepersons had yet earned the right to receive benefits.The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities ofthe plan, was $5,832,511,876 as of June 30, 2005, comparedto $5,774,783,835 as of July 1, 2004. During the plan year theplan experienced an increase in its net assets of $57,728,041.This increase includes unrealized appreciation anddepreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differencebetween the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the yearand the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or thecost of assets acquired during the year. The plan had totalincome of $622,239,876 including employer contributionsof $2,974,766, realized gains of $150,269,772 from the sale ofassets, and earnings from investments of $468,995,338.Minimum Funding StandardsAn actuary’s statement shows that enough money wascontributed to the plan to keep it funded in accordance withthe minimum funding standards of ERISA.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report,or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below areincluded in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment;4. loans or other obligations in default or classified asuncollectible;5. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets;6. information regarding any common or collectivetrusts, pooled separate accounts, master trustsor 103-12 investment entities in which the planparticipates; and7. actuarial information regarding the funding of theplan.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or anypart thereof, write or call the office of Dale R. Stover whois Comptroller, UMWA 1974 Pension Trust, 2121 K Street,N.W., Washington, DC 20037, (202) 521-2200. The charge tocover copying costs will be $30.00 for the full annual report,or 12 cents per page for any part thereof.You also have the right to receive from the planadministrator, on request and at no charge, a statementof the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the planand accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy ofthe full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as part ofthat report. The charge to cover copying costs given above doesnot include a charge for the copying of these portions of thereport because these portions are furnished without charge.You also have the legally protected right to examine theannual report at the main office of the plan (UMWA 1974Pension Trust, 2121 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037)and at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C.,or to obtain a copy from the U.S. Department of Laborupon payment of copying costs. Requests to the Departmentshould be addressed to: Public Disclosure Room, RoomN1513, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S.Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20210.SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UMWA 1992 BENEFIT PLANhis is a summary of the annual report of the UMWA 1992TBenefit Plan, EIN 52-1805437, Plan No. 501, for periodJanuary 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005. The annualreport has been filed with the Employee Benefits SecurityAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor, as requiredunder the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementThe value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of theplan, was $(3,361,047) as of December 31, 2005, comparedto $3,911,562 as of January 1, 2005. During the plan year theplan experienced a decrease in its net assets of $7,272,609.This decrease includes unrealized appreciation anddepreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differencebetween the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the yearand the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or thecost of assets acquired during the year. During the plan year,the plan had total income of $45,959,304 including employercontributions of $44,277,903, employee contributions of$9,418, realized losses of $101,565 from the sale of assets,and earnings from investments of $1,773,548.Plan expenses were $53,231,913. These expenses included$8,343,550 in administrative expenses and $44,888,363 inbenefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report,or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below areincluded in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment; and4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any partthereof, write or call the office of Dale R. Stover who isComptroller, United Mine Workers of America 1992 BenefitPlan, 2121 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037-1879,(202) 521-2200. The charge to cover copying costs will be$6.25 for the full annual report, or 12 cents per page for anypart thereof.You also have the right to receive from the planadministrator, on request and at no charge, a statementof the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the planand accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy ofthe full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as part ofthat report. The charge to cover copying costs given above doesnot include a charge for the copying of these portions of thereport because these portions are furnished without charge.You also have the legally protected right to examine theannual report at the main office of the plan (United MineWorkers of America 1992 Benefit Plan, 2121 K Street, N.W.,Washington, DC 20037-1879) and at the U.S. Departmentof Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from theU.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs.Requests to the Department should be addressed to: PublicDisclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits SecurityAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 ConstitutionAvenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.22 January/February 2007 • United Mine Workers Journal

UMWA HEALTH & RETIREMENT FUNDS ANNUAL REPORTSSUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UMWA 1993 BENEFIT PLANhis is a summary of the annual report of the UMWA 1993TBenefit Plan, EIN 52-1888497, Plan No. 501, for periodJanuary 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005. The annualreport has been filed with the Employee Benefits SecurityAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor, as requiredunder the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementThe value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of theplan, was $3,649,288 as of December 31, 2005, compared to$(190,979) as of January 1, 2005. During the plan year theplan experienced an increase in its net assets of $3,840,267.This increase includes unrealized appreciation anddepreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, the differencebetween the value of the plan’s assets at the end of the yearand the value of the assets at the beginning of the year or thecost of assets acquired during the year. During the plan year,the plan had total income of $33,111,831 including employercontributions of $12,669,237, employee contributions of$20,091,005, and earnings from investments of $351,589.Plan expenses were $29,271,564. These expenses included$4,884,663 in administrative expenses and $24,386,901 inbenefits paid to participants and beneficiaries.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report,or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below areincluded in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment; and4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or any partthereof, write or call the office of Dale R. Stover who isComptroller, United Mine Workers of America 1993 BenefitPlan, 2121 K Street N.W., Washington, DC 20037-1879,(202) 521-2200. The charge to cover copying costs will be$3.00 for the full annual report, or 12 cents per page for anypart thereof.You also have the right to receive from the planadministrator, on request and at no charge, a statementof the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the planand accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy ofthe full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as partof that report. The charge to cover copying costs given abovedoes not include a charge for the copying of these portionsof the report because these portions are furnished withoutcharge.You also have the legally protected right to examine theannual report at the main office of the plan (United MineWorkers of America 1993 Benefit Plan, 2121 K Street N.W.,Washington, DC 20037-1879) and at the U.S. Departmentof Labor in Washington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from theU.S. Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs.Requests to the Department should be addressed to: PublicDisclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits SecurityAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 ConstitutionAvenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UMWA COMBINED BENEFIT FUNDhis is a summary of the annual report of the UMWATCombined Benefit Fund, EIN 52-1805433, Plan No. 501,for period October 1, 2004 through September 30, 2005.The annual report has been filed with the Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, asrequired under the Employee Retirement Income SecurityAct of 1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementThe value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilities of theplan, was $(43,983,315) as of September 30, 2005, comparedto $(24,734,103) as of October 1, 2004. During the planyear the plan experienced a decrease in its net assets of$19,249,212. This decrease includes unrealized appreciationand depreciation in the value of plan assets; that is, thedifference between the value of the plan’s assets at the endof the year and the value of the assets at the beginning of theyear or the cost of assets acquired during the year. Duringthe plan year, the plan had total income of $135,984,543including employer contributions of $73,393,429, employeecontributions of $127,663, realized gains of $6,250 from thesale of assets, and earnings from investments of $4,409,931.Plan expenses were $155,233,755. These expensesincluded $27,087,955 in administrative expenses and$128,145,800 in benefits paid to participants andbeneficiaries.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annual report,or any part thereof, on request. The items listed below areincluded in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment; and4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, or anypart thereof, write or call the office of Dale R. Stover whois Comptroller, UMWA Combined Benefit Fund, 2121 KStreet, N.W., Washington, DC 20037, (202) 521-2200. Thecharge to cover copying costs will be $2.88 for the full annualreport, or 12 cents per page for any part thereof.You also have the right to receive from the planadministrator, on request and at no charge, a statementof the assets and liabilities of the plan and accompanyingnotes, or a statement of income and expenses of the planand accompanying notes, or both. If you request a copy ofthe full annual report from the plan administrator, these twostatements and accompanying notes will be included as part ofthat report. The charge to cover copying costs given above doesnot include a charge for the copying of these portions of thereport because these portions are furnished without charge.You also have the legally protected right to examinethe annual report at the main office of the plan (UMWACombined Benefit Fund, 2121 K Street, N.W., Washington,DC 20037) and at the U.S. Department of Labor inWashington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S.Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs.Requests to the Department should be addressed to: PublicDisclosure Room, Room N1513, Employee Benefits SecurityAdministration, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 ConstitutionAvenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210.SUMMARY ANNUAL REPORTFOR UMWA CASH DEFERRED SAVINGS PLANOF 1988his is a summary of the annual report for theTUMWA Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988,EIN 52-6377947, Plan No. 003, for period January1, 2005 through December 31, 2005. The annualreport has been filed with the Employee BenefitsSecurity Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,as required under the Employee Retirement IncomeSecurity Act of 1974 (ERISA).Basic Financial StatementBenefits under the plan are provided throughinsurance and through a trust fund. Plan expenseswere $22,443,205. These expenses included $307,536in administrative expenses, $22,087,891 in benefitspaid to participants and beneficiaries, and $47,778in other expenses. A total of 14,652 persons wereparticipants in or beneficiaries of the plan at the endof the plan year, although not all of these persons hadyet earned the right to receive benefits.The value of plan assets, after subtracting liabilitiesof the plan, was $250,116,707 as of December 31,2005, compared to $246,250,867 as of January 1,2005. During the plan year the plan experienced anincrease in its net assets of $3,865,840. This increaseincludes unrealized appreciation and depreciation inthe value of plan assets; that is, the difference betweenthe value of the plan’s assets at the end of the year andthe value of the assets at the beginning of the year orthe cost of assets acquired during the year. The planhad total income of $26,309,045 including employercontributions of $307,536, employee contributionsof $16,785,490, realized losses of $652,589 fromthe sale of assets, and earnings from investments of$9,868,608.Your Rights To Additional InformationYou have the right to receive a copy of the full annualreport, or any part thereof, on request. The itemslisted below are included in that report:1. an accountant’s report;2. financial information and information onpayments to service providers;3. assets held for investment;4. transactions in excess of 5% of the plan assets;5. insurance information, including salescommissions paid by insurance carriers; and6. information regarding any common orcollective trusts, pooled separate accounts,master trusts or 103-12 investment entities inwhich the plan participates.To obtain a copy of the full annual report, orany part thereof, write or call the office of Dale R.Stover who is Comptroller, UMWA Cash DeferredSavings Plan of 1988, 2121 K Street, N.W. Suite 350,Washington, DC 20037-1879, (202) 521-2200. Thecharge to cover copying costs will be $6.36 for thefull annual report, or 12 cents per page for any partthereof.You also have the right to receive from theplan administrator, on request and at no charge, astatement of the assets and liabilities of the plan andaccompanying notes, or a statement of income andexpenses of the plan and accompanying notes, orboth. If you request a copy of the full annual reportfrom the plan administrator, these two statementsand accompanying notes will be included as part ofthat report. The charge to cover copying costs givenabove does not include a charge for the copying ofthese portions of the report because these portions arefurnished without charge.You also have the legally protected right toexamine the annual report at the main office of theplan (UMWA Cash Deferred Savings Plan of 1988,2121 K Street, N.W. Suite 350, Washington, DC20037-1879) and at the U.S. Department of Labor inWashington, D.C., or to obtain a copy from the U.S.Department of Labor upon payment of copying costs.Requests to the Department should be addressed to:Public Disclosure Room, Room N1513, EmployeeBenefits Security Administration, U.S. Department ofLabor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington,D.C. 20210.United Mine Workers Journal • January/February 2007 23

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