Main pointed out that 70,000 to 80,000 retirees depend on the Coal Act. Despite a $68 million infusion last year, the fund needs additional financing by the end of this year. "The rally went well," he said, "but we have got a lot of work to do."

The May 17–19 conference was sponsored by the West Virginia Black Lung Clinics program. In attendance were clinic staff, National Black Lung Association activists, health-care workers, and others. Main gave a presentation on legislative issues concerning health and safety matters facing miners and retirees. According to the original conference agenda, UMWA president Cecil Roberts was scheduled to be part of a panel set for May 17 on the future of coal mining in West Virginia. The panel was canceled as the Washington rally that day built into a sizable action.

Main pointed out that miners and retirees face battles on the fight against black lung, which is a preventable disease caused by breathing coal dust. Despite federal legislation enacted to prevent it, black lung still remains the number-one killer of coal miners in the country. The UMWA estimates that it kills 1,500 miners every year.

Today, only 7 percent of those seeking benefits for black lung are successful, and of those some require lengthy legal battles. In response to growing exposure of widespread denials, and determination by miners and their union not to let the issue get swept under the rug, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed new regulations last October, but they are still tied up in the department. The UMWA is pushing to strengthen the regulations and thwart efforts at derailment. This included a lobbying effort by miners and retirees on Capitol Hill on March 22. Main pointed to the hostility of the mine bosses to any reform, noting that "the coal operators want this shut down so badly."

Alongside the fight for benefits for those who contract black lung, miners are demanding improved conditions in the mines to prevent and reduce the disease and other health risks.

The UMWA has sued the government in an effort to force it to take over monitoring of dust levels, which is a crucial part of enforcing regulations and reducing risk of dust to miners. At present, operators are responsible for measuring dust levels. Since 1990 there have been 200 prosecutions for dust fraud, Main pointed out.

Personal dust monitors and constant monitoring devices are being developed, but the government will not make it a requirement for the mines to have these devices. The union official said that on each of these matters the UMWA had a lawsuit or a threat of a lawsuit against the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and that they were "highly disappointed in this administration."

The current issue of the United Mine Workers Journal points to strengthened ties between the UMWA and the National Black Lung Association (NBLA) and the National Coalition of Black Lung Clinics. NBLA president Lewis Fitch said, "We will continue to push the Labor Department to put these long-overdue black lung rules and regulations into effect." He added that the NBLA is also working to invigorate the black lung clinics, established with UMWA assistance. The National Black Lung Association conference will be held in the coalfields October 14--16 in Bristol, Virginia.  
 
 
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