Miners rally in Morgantown Friday

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Miners and their international union leader will rally in Morgantown Friday. The United Mine Workers of America has been holding events statewide drawing attention to health care and pension benefits for miners.

In August, the union was protesting Patriot Coal company’s attempt to eliminate its union contract amid bankruptcy proceedings.

Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.) will also attend the rally at the Waterfront Hotel.

“They’re like collateral damage. All these administrative regulations they are putting on are costing them their jobs,” McKinley said on MetroNews Talkline Thursday. “They haven’t done anything wrong. But, it’s the philosophy the president is pushing that’s costing them their jobs.”

Most recently, McKinley and UMWA leaders have blasted a stream protection rule proposed by the U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Surface Mining.

It’s one of a number of proposals under the Obama administration that will impact one of the state’s most storied industries.

UMWA President Cecil Roberts has said President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan will decrease coal production by millions of tons of coal a year leading to fewer jobs.

The plan requires states to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants by 30 percent in 15 years.

A year ago, lawmakers in West Virginia learned there were 96 active coal mining sites in the state. The number was almost double in 2012 at 184 sites. The number dropped to 152 in 2013.

In Washington two pieces of legislation, HR 2403 and S 1714, are under consideration.

Both set out to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 specifically dealing with how mine reclamation fees could be used to salvage benefits for retired miners.

On a mission to get the bill passed in the House, McKinley is bringing a colleague to tour a West Virginia mine Friday.

“Peter Welch out of Vermont, he’s a real solid guy. But, we’re just philosophically opposite on an issue like that. I thought if he came, it might have an impact,” McKinley explained. “Often he will speak in opposition to what we’re trying to do. He’s also come on board with me. He’s heard my plea on the floor time and time again about how we’re treating our coal miners.”

In addition to local miners, some from neighboring states will be bused in for the 11:00 a.m. rally.





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