Time running out for Congress to act on mine workers’ benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 6, 2017) — Time is running out for more than 22,000 retired members and their families. Unless Congress acts before April 30 to simply re-purpose funds already set aside for them by passing the Miners’ Protection Act, these mine workers and their families will lose their health care and pensions.

Coal mining kills — quickly and slowly. When men and women die underground, they leave families behind, but no one comes out unscathed. Black lung, pneumonia, cancer, emphysema. Our nation must keep the health and pension promises made to these workers, even if their former employers have filed for bankruptcy. The money is there, in excess funds set aside for the Abandoned Mine Land Fund. It just needs to be shifted over to maintain the commitments made to these miners and their families.

Lives are literally hanging in the balance.

TAKE A STAND! — The United Mine Workers of America is urging all union members and community supporters to tell their senators and member of Congress to support the Miners’ Protection Act, S. 1714 and H.R. 2403. This legislation means life and death to tens of thousands of coal miners, their spouses and dependents.

Watch this brief video of AFA-CWA International President Sara Nelson delivering an impassioned message about the need to pass the Miners Protection Act.