Thousands of local coal miners rally at National Mall

Sept. 09--WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Sixteen years ago, Bil Musgrave was told he had 3-6 months to live. On Thursday, he stood outside the U.S. Capitol and fought to preserve his healthcare.

Musgrave, a retired Squaw Creek miner out of Boonville with Local 1189, was one of thousands of United Mine Workers of America members who took part in the Keep Your Promise rally: a massive protest meant to pressure lawmakers into passing two bills that will prevent shortfalls in pension and healthcare coverage for union members.

He was also one of 100 UMWA workers and family members who were arrested for civil disobedience on Thursday.

Wearing a bright orange hat and green bracelet like all other impending arrestees, Musgrave struggled to be heard over the rumblings of "Born to Run."

"It took me awhile to (find out you have to) fight as hard to keep something as you did to get it initially," said Musgrave, who was diagnosed with bile duct cancer almost two decades before. "Unfortunately the government has decided to back out of the obligation they made to the mine workers in 1946.

"... Seems like the government, they have the money to bail out the bankers and the corporations, and we're not even asking for a bailout."

According to UMWA spokesman Phil Smith, more than 10,000 miners -- hundreds of whom traveled from Boonville, Henderson, Ohio County, Kentucky, and Benton, Illinois -- spilled onto the National Mall for the three-hour rally. More than 150 buses choked the streets as miners and their families braved sunburns and near triple-digit temperatures.

The rally featured a televangelist turn from UMWA president Cecil Roberts, as well as a bipartisan slate of lawmakers such as Sen. Bob Casey, Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, Kentucky Rep. Mike Bost, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, and Sen. Joe Manchin from West Virginia, the sponsor of the Miners Protection Act.

Manchin said the act will go before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 14. If a bill doesn't pass, thousands of miners could lose health coverage by the end of the year.

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Indiana, didn't speak, but spent several minutes talking to and taking pictures with mine workers before the rally began.

"Why I support it (is) because promises were made in 1946. ... It's an obligation we took on, it's a promise we made, and if we make a promise we should keep it," he said. "These men and women went into the mines and the coal they dug powered us through World War II."

Donnelly said the committee had found funding for the bill. He believes it's going to pass to the full Senate.

"I support it 100 percent," he said.

A bill in the House -- an update to the Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act -- is also in limbo.

In a statement to the Courier & Press, Nick McGee, spokesman for Indiana Eighth District Rep. Larry Bucshon, said Bucshon would support a bill to extend pension and healthcare protections for union miners, but only if it was fair to taxpayers.

"Dr. Bucshon has made it clear that he would support a responsible solution to protect the pensions and health benefits of Hoosier coal miners," the statement reads in part. "... At this point, the House leadership has not scheduled a vote or hearing on legislation pertaining to this issue, If and when final legislation is brought up for a vote, Dr. Bucshon will review the language and give it full consideration."

McGee also sent an article stressing that in 2015, union mines only accounted for 14 percent of mine production, with UMWA contributing 9 percent.

A group of miners from Squaw Creek said that their pensions, and especially their health insurance, were critical as they aged and battled myriad health issues.

Married couple Charles and Cindy Scherzinger said they can't afford medication without additional protection. They said Cindy's monthly rheumatoid arthritis IV costs $13,000. Charles, who worked at Squaw Creek, also has replaced knees and shoulders.

"You go to the union meetings, and it looks like a retirement home," Cindy said. "Everyone there has their own set of problems."

They were among the group arrested on Thursday. They marched toward Pennsylvania Avenue. Each carried a white cross. Behind them, men in camouflage shirts lifted a black casket off a wagon that had been hauled up for the trip. The crosses represented thousands of union members who have died from black lung.

The 100 men and women dropped the crosses into the casket and sat down in the street.

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