New digest is also up :) It’s a content kinda day, aye
Last Week in Labor: Dec. 27, 2025 - Jan. 2, 2026
Labor wins at the federal level, new leadership at the UMWA, and other headlines you may have missed.
www.wordsaboutwork.news
January 2, 2026 at 8:41 PM
New digest is also up :) It’s a content kinda day, aye
Doin some labor research
August 13, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Doin some labor research
“Who is going to monitor dust levels in our mines? Who will ensure the next generation of miners doesn’t end up with the same black lungs as their fathers and grandfathers?” UMWA President Cecil Roberts
Full Statement: bit.ly/4k5BMAR
Full Statement: bit.ly/4k5BMAR
May 4, 2025 at 1:22 AM
“Who is going to monitor dust levels in our mines? Who will ensure the next generation of miners doesn’t end up with the same black lungs as their fathers and grandfathers?” UMWA President Cecil Roberts
Full Statement: bit.ly/4k5BMAR
Full Statement: bit.ly/4k5BMAR
Black organizers were the best and bravest in the coal fields and one reason the UMWA was an integrated union.
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Black organizers were the best and bravest in the coal fields and one reason the UMWA was an integrated union.
Representatives with the United Coal Workers of America have condemned a federal court’s decision to continue delaying the implementation of a federal rule to lower coal miners’ exposure to dangerous silica dust, calling the pushback “bureaucratic cowardice," reports @caitycoyne.bsky.social.
UMWA calls continued delay of silica dust rule a ‘death sentence’ for coal miners in WV and beyond • West Virginia Watch
UMWA representatives have condemned delaying the implementation of a federal rule to lower coal miners’ exposure to silica dust.
westvirginiawatch.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Representatives with the United Coal Workers of America have condemned a federal court’s decision to continue delaying the implementation of a federal rule to lower coal miners’ exposure to dangerous silica dust, calling the pushback “bureaucratic cowardice," reports @caitycoyne.bsky.social.
A thing people also don't like to talk about is that the UMWA became a pretty corrupt and violent organization towards its own membership mid-century.
Oh for sure. But it ends up feeding into a pseudo-nostalgia for when all the miners were union men without looking at the asterisks, if that makes sense.
April 10, 2026 at 6:13 PM
A thing people also don't like to talk about is that the UMWA became a pretty corrupt and violent organization towards its own membership mid-century.
My grandfather joked about the kneecaps he broke trying to get the UMWA organized in his coal mine
January 13, 2026 at 12:40 AM
My grandfather joked about the kneecaps he broke trying to get the UMWA organized in his coal mine
Sid Hatfield (the Matewan police chief who personally killed a goon in the Battle of Matewan) was featured in UMWA propaganda alongside Mother Jones? And he didn't even kill a CEO
December 5, 2024 at 3:54 PM
Sid Hatfield (the Matewan police chief who personally killed a goon in the Battle of Matewan) was featured in UMWA propaganda alongside Mother Jones? And he didn't even kill a CEO
October 4, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A third of longtime miners in Central Appalachia now have black lung because federal regulators have caved to mining companies fighting the rule to protect workers from deadly dust. Workers are dying without safety protections all in the quest for more profits.
UMWA calls for ‘immediate’ enforcement of silica rule as black lung hits new high in WV, Appalachia • West Virginia Watch
The UMWA made a for the “immediate" enforcement of previously approved policies that would protect coal miners from black lung disease.
westvirginiawatch.com
August 17, 2026 at 7:05 PM
A third of longtime miners in Central Appalachia now have black lung because federal regulators have caved to mining companies fighting the rule to protect workers from deadly dust. Workers are dying without safety protections all in the quest for more profits.
The UMWA built off this event and in 1900, with an improved economy after the depression ended in 1898, won significant wage increases. UMWA president John Mitchell became, along with AFL head Samuel Gompers, the most important labor leader in the country.
September 10, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The UMWA built off this event and in 1900, with an improved economy after the depression ended in 1898, won significant wage increases. UMWA president John Mitchell became, along with AFL head Samuel Gompers, the most important labor leader in the country.
By the early 1930s, the UMWA was led by John L. Lewis. Lewis came out of the coal mines of the Midwest. Gompers hired him as a mining organizer in 1911 and by 1919, he became president of the UMWA.
November 9, 2025 at 1:14 PM
By the early 1930s, the UMWA was led by John L. Lewis. Lewis came out of the coal mines of the Midwest. Gompers hired him as a mining organizer in 1911 and by 1919, he became president of the UMWA.
Like, absolutely run UMWA District 31 Vice President Mike “Biggin” Payton as an independent for Senate. I'm sure he'll be more successful than anybody not named Joe Manchin. And also.
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Like, absolutely run UMWA District 31 Vice President Mike “Biggin” Payton as an independent for Senate. I'm sure he'll be more successful than anybody not named Joe Manchin. And also.
UMWA calls for ‘immediate’ enforcement of silica rule as black lung hits new high in Appalachia
From @caitycoyne.bsky.social at @westvirginiawatch.com
kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/14/r...
From @caitycoyne.bsky.social at @westvirginiawatch.com
kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/14/r...
UMWA calls for ‘immediate’ enforcement of silica rule as black lung hits new high in Appalachia • Kentucky Lantern
The UMWA made a for the “immediate" enforcement of previously approved policies that would protect coal miners from black lung disease.
kentuckylantern.com
August 14, 2026 at 12:48 PM
UMWA calls for ‘immediate’ enforcement of silica rule as black lung hits new high in Appalachia
From @caitycoyne.bsky.social at @westvirginiawatch.com
kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/14/r...
From @caitycoyne.bsky.social at @westvirginiawatch.com
kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/14/r...
Women's History Every Day
MARY HARRIS JONES
(Mother Jones)
1837-1930
- Union organizer: IWW, UMW, and UMWA
- Imprisoned for activism
- Campaigned to end child labor
- Known by bosses as the most dangerous woman in America.
- Irish Immigrant
MARY HARRIS JONES
(Mother Jones)
1837-1930
- Union organizer: IWW, UMW, and UMWA
- Imprisoned for activism
- Campaigned to end child labor
- Known by bosses as the most dangerous woman in America.
- Irish Immigrant
March 18, 2026 at 4:34 AM
Women's History Every Day
MARY HARRIS JONES
(Mother Jones)
1837-1930
- Union organizer: IWW, UMW, and UMWA
- Imprisoned for activism
- Campaigned to end child labor
- Known by bosses as the most dangerous woman in America.
- Irish Immigrant
MARY HARRIS JONES
(Mother Jones)
1837-1930
- Union organizer: IWW, UMW, and UMWA
- Imprisoned for activism
- Campaigned to end child labor
- Known by bosses as the most dangerous woman in America.
- Irish Immigrant
Proud to have the United Mine Workers on Team Vindman!
UMWA is headquartered right here in Virginia’s Seventh District, and I’m proud to stand with them in the fight for good-paying jobs, strong unions, and working families.
UMWA is headquartered right here in Virginia’s Seventh District, and I’m proud to stand with them in the fight for good-paying jobs, strong unions, and working families.
August 18, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Proud to have the United Mine Workers on Team Vindman!
UMWA is headquartered right here in Virginia’s Seventh District, and I’m proud to stand with them in the fight for good-paying jobs, strong unions, and working families.
UMWA is headquartered right here in Virginia’s Seventh District, and I’m proud to stand with them in the fight for good-paying jobs, strong unions, and working families.
Years ago I worked w an organizer from the United Mine Workers. He said there were 5 movies everyone in labor should see:
For unions: Norma Rae & Matewan (UMWA staff played the Pinkertons)
For organization: The Godfather
For importance of research: The Untouchables
For the politics: RoboCop
For unions: Norma Rae & Matewan (UMWA staff played the Pinkertons)
For organization: The Godfather
For importance of research: The Untouchables
For the politics: RoboCop
March 21, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Years ago I worked w an organizer from the United Mine Workers. He said there were 5 movies everyone in labor should see:
For unions: Norma Rae & Matewan (UMWA staff played the Pinkertons)
For organization: The Godfather
For importance of research: The Untouchables
For the politics: RoboCop
For unions: Norma Rae & Matewan (UMWA staff played the Pinkertons)
For organization: The Godfather
For importance of research: The Untouchables
For the politics: RoboCop
It’s a great day to be in Annandale showing support for postal workers. The mine workers are here in force to show solidarity with @apwu.bsky.social We’re going to be joined by a president who actually was elected with a mandate, Liz Shuler.
March 20, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It’s a great day to be in Annandale showing support for postal workers. The mine workers are here in force to show solidarity with @apwu.bsky.social We’re going to be joined by a president who actually was elected with a mandate, Liz Shuler.
On November 9, 1935, the UMWA, along with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, and other industrial unions within the AFL created the CIO.
November 9, 2025 at 1:16 PM
On November 9, 1935, the UMWA, along with the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, and other industrial unions within the AFL created the CIO.
and since hamno put a UMWA pic for his article: with places like appalachia, the thesis is always that democrats abandoned them, instead of, you know, they abandoned the democrats for putting a black man in the white house and finally stopping fucking around on a number of hot button social issues
December 1, 2025 at 1:36 AM
and since hamno put a UMWA pic for his article: with places like appalachia, the thesis is always that democrats abandoned them, instead of, you know, they abandoned the democrats for putting a black man in the white house and finally stopping fucking around on a number of hot button social issues
Sorry alt text for last image should read assorted UMWA badges
August 13, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Sorry alt text for last image should read assorted UMWA badges
The call from the UMWA comes after new research this month shows that black lung rates have increased to an almost 50-year high after years of decline.
Pennsylvanians have filed 143,000 claims for black lung benefits, as of last year.
From @westvirginiawatch.com
Pennsylvanians have filed 143,000 claims for black lung benefits, as of last year.
From @westvirginiawatch.com
UMWA calls for ‘immediate’ enforcement of silica rule as black lung hits new high in Pa., Appalachia • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The UMWA made a for the “immediate" enforcement of previously approved policies that would protect coal miners from black lung disease.
penncapital-star.com
August 14, 2026 at 12:24 PM
The call from the UMWA comes after new research this month shows that black lung rates have increased to an almost 50-year high after years of decline.
Pennsylvanians have filed 143,000 claims for black lung benefits, as of last year.
From @westvirginiawatch.com
Pennsylvanians have filed 143,000 claims for black lung benefits, as of last year.
From @westvirginiawatch.com
My husband is a retired UMWA. He didn’t vote for Trump. Maybe don’t paint with such a wide brush?There ARE good people in WV who despise Trump and didn’t vote against their best interest. They deserve safe mines.
March 30, 2025 at 6:07 PM
My husband is a retired UMWA. He didn’t vote for Trump. Maybe don’t paint with such a wide brush?There ARE good people in WV who despise Trump and didn’t vote against their best interest. They deserve safe mines.
Roosevelt refused to meet with them. She worked for the UMWA but attended the founding convention of the Industrial Workers of World in 1905 and worked as an organizer for the Socialist Party in the late 1900s, returning to the UMWA as a paid organizer in 1911.
March 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Roosevelt refused to meet with them. She worked for the UMWA but attended the founding convention of the Industrial Workers of World in 1905 and worked as an organizer for the Socialist Party in the late 1900s, returning to the UMWA as a paid organizer in 1911.