The head of the United Mine Workers of America doesn’t trust Democrats’ Green New Deal to deliver for coal miners.
Roberts pointed to the constant political fights his union has waged to preserve pensions and retiree health benefits over the last two decades, as coal companies have tried to shed their obligations through bankruptcy proceedings. The UMWA’s pension plan is on track to become insolvent within just a few years, and Congress has done nothing so far to make sure miners don’t end up with pennies on the dollar.
There are different versions of such a plan, though all promise to create good-paying jobs and look after workers in industries hurt in the transition. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , one of the most vocal proponents of a Green New Deal, has spoken often about how a climate package should fully fund the miners’ endangered pension plan. Presidential hopeful Sen.
“I understand somehow, magically, if certain people get elected president, they’re going to make those union jobs, and they’re going to require them to pay what you get make now,” Roberts said. “I don’t believe that. I just can’t make that work in my mind.” Roberts made clear that he believes in climate change ― “it’s real, it needs to be dealt with” ― but argued that further curbing coal use in the U.S. would do little when coal-fired power plants continue to open in other countries.
“Everybody wants to get their pictures taken with a coal miner [when they’re] running for office,” Roberts said. “But they don’t want anything to do with us once they get into office.”
Of course not...just go to work and let's do our best.