UMWA Letter to President Trump – MSHA COVID-19 Safety Standard
On April 17th a letter was sent to President Trump by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin III (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) echoing the UMWA’s call to the Mine Safety and Health Administration to exercise its authority to issue emergency standards to safeguard miners as the nation continues to [...]
‘I’ve already got infected lungs’: for sick coal miners Covid-19 is a death sentence”- The Guardian
“This extra impairment would be enough to kill them which is why we’re trying to be so careful in not having them in the clinic and encouraging them to stay at home, stay away from people so they don’t get it because it would be much more difficult for someone like that to recuperate, if it’s even possible,” said Debbi Wills, a black lung clinic coordinator in West Virginia.’ Read [...]
NCBLRDC supports UMWA request for a more robust COVID-19 response from MSHA
Attached is a letter from the National Coalition of Black Lung & Respiratory Disease Clinics Inc. (NCBLRDC) to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in support of the UMWA request for a more robust approach in responding to Covid-19. Read the UMWA letter here: https://umwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/032420-CER-Letter-David-Zatezalo-COVID-19.pdf
‘I’m Just Praying’: Miners Fear the Impacts Covid-19 Could Have in Coal Country
Dr. Leonard Go, Assistant Director of the MinER Center, was quoted in this 3/25/20 Gizmodo article: I’m Just Praying’: Miners Fear the Impacts Covid-19 Could Have in Coal Country
Coronavirus & Black Lung: What to Know
What We Know: Coronavirus or officially known as COVID-19 is a new infectious respiratory virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11th, 2020. Most people experience mild to moderate symptoms. Elderly and those living with pre-existing conditions tend to experience more severe symptoms and may require hospitalization.
Black Lung Benefits Drop For Kentucky Coal Miners After Controversial Law Change
Click the link to read more: https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2020/02/black-lung-benefits-drop-for-kentucky-coal-miners-after-controversial-law-change/
Dr. Cohen Feature: Hesa Mag-Migrant workers in Fortress Europe
Read more here: https://www.etui.org/Publications2/Periodicals/HesaMag-20-Migrant-workers-in-Fortress-Europe
Proposed Queensland law re-frames mining deaths as industrial manslaughter
“New laws in Queensland, Australia could see executives of mines and quarries facing a maximum of 20 years in jail for negligence in worker deaths, with companies receiving fines of up to AUD13m. The new laws, introduced today by the Palaszczuk government mines minister Dr. Anthony Lynham, propose that senior officers of a mine or quarry company can be put on trial for industrial manslaughter.” Read more here: https://www.mining-technology.com/mining-safety/proposed-queensland-law-re-frames-mining-deaths-as-industrial-manslaughter
America’s largest private coal miner files for bankruptcy
The slow death of the American coal industry has forced Murray Energy, the largest private coal miner in the United States, to file for bankruptcy protection Tuesday. Murray Energy’s bankruptcy has been telegraphed for years. More Info
House Natural Resources Committee advances miners’ pension and retiree health care bills
(WASHINGTON, DC) The House Natural Resources Committee today passed HR 934, the Health Benefits For Miners Act, and HR 935, the Miners Pension Protection Act, by unanimous voice votes. The committee action clears the way for these critical bills to be voted on by the full House of Representatives. More Info