Aug 9 Economy “Bloody Harlan” Revisited: Blackjewel Miners Draw On Labor History While Facing Uncertain Future Curtis Cress sat in the gravel beside a railroad track in Harlan County, Kentucky. Tall and thin with a long, black beard, Cress is every bit a coal miner, or, he was until a month ago. “It’s part of my heritage, you know? My dad and papaws had always done it,” he said. “And I’m […] By Sydney Boles Aug 9 Economy “Bloody Harlan” Revisited: Blackjewel Miners Draw On Labor History While Facing Uncertain Future Sydney Boles
Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Harold Sturgill was disabled by black lung disease when he was 58 years old. Now he advocates for disabled miners. “When it comes to the mining companies, and it comes to the worker, it’s still all about production,” Sturgill said. “They could care less about me, how much dust I suck in, or how long […] By Sydney Boles Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Sydney Boles
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
Dec 4 Energy & Environment Mine Workers Sue Federal Regulators Over Controversial Mine Safety Decision The United Mine Workers of America is suing the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, after the agency reduced its heightened oversight of a West Virginia coal mine with a poor safety record. MSHA has the power to declare mines with a history of significant safety violations as having a “Pattern of Violations.” […] By Brittany Patterson and Becca Schimmel Dec 4 Energy & Environment Mine Workers Sue Federal Regulators Over Controversial Mine Safety Decision Brittany Patterson and 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
Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Thirty years ago the premiere of a small-budget, independent film had an out-sized effect on how many people in Appalachian coal country thought about their region and their past. “Matewan,” directed by John Sayles, depicted a bloody chapter in the fight to organize coal miners in the 1920s, exploring themes of class struggle and pacifism […] By Jeff Young Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Jeff Young
Sep 13 Energy & Environment New Mine Safety “Assistance” Program Raises Concerns Lawmakers and union leaders are raising concerns about the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration’s practices amid an increase in coal fatalities. West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin asked MSHA for more information after receiving what he calls “alarming” reports about how the agency is implementing its new Compliance Assistance Program . In a […] By Becca Schimmel Sep 13 Energy & Environment New Mine Safety “Assistance” Program Raises Concerns Becca Schimmel
Jul 8 Economy Shafted: Dark Future Possible For Miners Who Kept Our Lights On Miners in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia who helped keep the country’s lights on are worried that their retirement benefits could go dark as a result of a wave of bankruptcies in the coal industry. They hope Congress will approve a bill called the Miner’s Protection Act to shore up the pensions and health benefits […] By Becca Schimmel Jul 8 Economy Shafted: Dark Future Possible For Miners Who Kept Our Lights On Becca Schimmel