Retired Virginia Coal Miners Travel to Washington, Call on Congress to Protect Health & Pension Plan

Press Release

Two retired coal miners from Southwest Virginia were in Washington today to call on Congress to strengthen a United Mineworkers Union health and pension fund that's almost out of money after several recent coal company bankruptcies.

The retired miners say they support legislation sponsored by Virginia Senator Mark Warner called the "Miners Protection Act," which would take leftover funds from a federal government program that cleans-up abandoned mines and use it to shore-up the underfunded health insurance and pension plan.

The 2008 recession, America's shift to cleaner energy sources, and the recent bankruptcies of several leading coal companies means the UMWA health and pension fund soon will not get the employer contributions it needs to meet its commitments. As a result, nearly 20,000 retirees whose companies filed for bankruptcy in 2015 alone are facing the loss of their healthcare and retirement benefits by the end of this year.

UMWA President Cecil Roberts says the nation has an obligation to these workers since many of them accepted lower wages over the years so that more money could be dedicated to their health care in retirement.

Kevin McCammon of Dante retired in 2010 after working underground for 21 years.

Steve Fox of Honaker retired three years ago after 43 years in the mines.

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