UMWA, Democratic Party different from father's day (An online letter)

Published: October 14, 2011 Writer unknown...

My father, a miner disabled by black lung, was a proud member of both the Democratic Party and the United Mine Workers’ of America. In the early ’70s, my father filed for and was awarded federal black lung benefits. Those benefits allowed my parents to live comfortably and have definitely been a much-needed addition to my 96-year-old mother’s monthly income.

One can only imagine my father’s dismay, were he alive, to realize that the UMWA he fought for is now supporting a candidate for Virginia state delegate who not only works for a law firm that defends coal operators against miners seeking black lung benefits, but the candidate also represents employers fighting black lung claimants.This is not my father’s UMWA!

I personally would have never believed that I would see the day that the UMWA would make the choice to financially support a candidate who “defends” coal operators and insurance companies against black lung claimants; and, choose to give no financial support to black lung associations that advocate for equitable black lung legislation and also assists black lung claimants.This is not my father’s UMWA!

Moreover, if the UMWA is supporting the Democratic candidate because he is a Democrat, then, you know what – this isn’t my father’s Democratic Party either!

Sparkle Bonds

Bandy, Va.