May 8 Economy Retired Miners Make One More Push For Pension Protection On Capitol Hill Retired coal miners joined lawmakers from the Ohio Valley on Capitol Hill Wednesday for another attempt to protect miners’ pensions. Pensions are at risk because of a downturn in the coal market, the lingering effects of the 2008 recession, and coal company bankruptcies which have all reduced the amounts companies paid into a shared, or […] By Becca Schimmel May 8 Economy Retired Miners Make One More Push For Pension Protection On Capitol Hill Becca Schimmel
Jan 8 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Senators Again Aim to Shore Up Shaky Pension Plan For Coal Miners Following a failed attempt to address a looming crisis in many multi-employer pension programs, two Ohio Valley lawmakers have introduced a bill in Congress to shore up the shaky pension plan for coal miners. The bill also aims to protect health benefits and restore funding for the federal trust fund providing benefits for thousands of […] By Becca Schimmel Jan 8 Energy & Environment Ohio Valley Senators Again Aim to Shore Up Shaky Pension Plan For Coal Miners Becca Schimmel
Oct 19 Economy Pensions At The Polls: Will Concern Over Shaky Plans Show Up On Election Day? Thousands of union coal miners and their families gathered this summer in Columbus, Ohio, wielding signs and wearing camouflage United Mine Workers of America shirts. UMWA President Cecil Roberts led the crowd in a call-and-response chant. “I want you to send a loud, clear signal that we are one! We are one!” But the miners […] By Becca Schimmel Oct 19 Economy Pensions At The Polls: Will Concern Over Shaky Plans Show Up On Election Day? Becca Schimmel
Sep 25 Economy Miners Urge Congressional Action On Pensions, Black Lung Fund Retired coal miners and coal community activists are on Capitol Hill this week urging action on two important issues for miners: pensions and black lung benefits. Advocates say funds supporting both pensions for retired miners and the federal benefits for those sickened by black lung disease are at risk if Congress does not act. […] By Becca Schimmel Sep 25 Economy Miners Urge Congressional Action On Pensions, Black Lung Fund Becca Schimmel
Jul 17 Economy Pension Problems: Lawmakers Warn Of Economic Fallout From Failing Pensions United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts fired up a crowd of thousands of union workers in Columbus, Ohio, with a simple chant: “Fix it!” The rally last week came on the eve of a Congressional field hearing on problems plaguing multiemployer pension programs like the one retired miners depend upon. “When the people get to […] By Becca Schimmel Jul 17 Economy Pension Problems: Lawmakers Warn Of Economic Fallout From Failing Pensions Becca Schimmel
Dec 13 Economy Miners’ Pensions A Major Part Of Spending Debate Retired union coal miners are joining teamsters, iron workers and other union retirees in an effort to shore up their ailing pension plans, and they hope the ticking clock on a government spending bill will help. Some Democrats want to see protections for retirement benefits included in the omnibus spending bill, which Congress must pass […] By Becca Schimmel Dec 13 Economy Miners’ Pensions A Major Part Of Spending Debate Becca Schimmel
Oct 4 Economy Bipartisan Bill Would Prop Up Coal Miners’ Pensions A bipartisan Congressional group from the Ohio Valley and beyond introduced a new bill to save pensions for retired union coal miners throughout the region. The American Miners Pension Act, or AMP, would secure pensions for about 43,000 miners in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia whose retirement benefits have been undermined by the decline of […] By Becca Schimmel Oct 4 Economy Bipartisan Bill Would Prop Up Coal Miners’ Pensions Becca Schimmel
May 12 Economy Mending Mining Country: Three Ways Trump Could Help Miners And Coal Communities At a March ceremony to sign an executive order reversing Obama-era environmental regulations, coal miners were arranged on stage around President Donald Trump as he took up his pen. “You know what it says, right?” Trump asked the miners. “You’re going back to work.” From his campaign rallies to White House events, President Donald Trump […] By Benny Becker , Glynis Board , , Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel May 12 Economy Mending Mining Country: Three Ways Trump Could Help Miners And Coal Communities Benny Becker, Glynis Board, , Jeff Young and Becca Schimmel
May 3 Economy McConnell’s Dual Role In Miners’ Benefits Saga Retired miners will not lose their health benefits, as had been feared, thanks to last-minute action from Congress. However, Congress did not act on the miners’ faltering pension benefits fund, which supports some 43,000 retired miners in the Ohio Valley region. The health and pension benefits had been connected in legislation in Congress called the […] By Becca Schimmel May 3 Economy McConnell’s Dual Role In Miners’ Benefits Saga Becca Schimmel
Jan 24 Economy Competing Bills On Miners Benefits Tens of thousands of retired coal miners and their families in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia face another deadline on expiring healthcare benefits and pensions. A temporary extension Congress funded late last year expires in April. A regional Senate Republican and Democrat have offered competing bills to address the issue. The two measures differ sharply […] By Becca Schimmel Jan 24 Economy Competing Bills On Miners Benefits Becca Schimmel