In 1946 U.S. President Harry Truman promised lifetime retirement benefits to coal miners. But as the coal industry goes bankrupt, companies are opting out of their obligations to provide health care benefits to retirees and contribute to the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Fund—leaving the workers who built this country from the ground up out in the cold. 
Last week, AFGE stood side by side with thousands of coal miners and their families at a rally on Capitol Hill that put pressure on Congress to redirect excess funds from the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund — a pot of money collected from coal companies—and use it to save miners’ essential health care benefits.
“Retired miners are on the edge of losing everything they worked for,” said AFGE National President J. David Cox. “We won’t stand idly by as America breaks its promise to the very people who built this country. AFGE stands in solidarity with UMWA and the families who depend on them.” 
Learn more about saving coal miners’ health care and pensions at www.umwa.org.
Our members came together at the union’s 41st National Convention to elect our top three national officers.
Read More
Our union has faced life-threatening challenges before, but these threats are different. We have politicians in the White House, the House, and the Senate who are hell bent on wiping us out. We have never had our union contracts unilaterally annulled, our union volunteers kicked out of offices, our work fighting injustice severely restricted or denied. That’s why this national convention is extremely important. The stakes have never been higher – and that's why our 41st Triennial National Convention is so important.
Read More
With all the new anti-federal employee laws, pending bills, and Executive Orders, you may feel federal employees are the sole target of politicians. In reality, these politicians have been coming after all working people for decades.
Read More
