Catherwood LibraryILR School

As the U.S. coal market continues to decline and mining companies steadily declare bankruptcy, thousands of retired miners and their families are faced with the possibility of losing their pensions and health care benefits from to a lack of funds due to dramatically decreased UAW representation in the mines. A rally was held in Lexington, Kentucky this past Tuesday at which Cecil Roberts, president of the UAW, addressed retired miners, many of which heavily rely on their benefits to cover the high costs of accommodating disabilities and impairments incurred during decades of hard and dangerous labor. The UAW and various senators vehemently support the passing of SB 1714, a bill that would dramatically increase the funds available to address health costs for nearly 89,000 covered individuals.