From the United Mine Workers of America: Roberts re-elected UMWA President

Roberts re-elected UMWA President

[TRIANGLE, VA.] Cecil E. Roberts has been re-elected by acclamation to his seventh full term as International President of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the union announced today. His running mate, Brian Sanson, was elected to his first full term as International Secretary-Treasurer.

“I am humbled by this demonstration of support from the members of our union,” Roberts said. “At every step of my career, I have put what I believed to be the best interests of the membership first. I think they see that, and know that I will always fight for them. I thank them from the bottom of my heart and pledge to continue putting them first in everything that I do.”

Roberts has served the membership of the UMWA as International President since 1995 and is surpassed only by the legendary John L. Lewis as the longest-serving chief officer of the union. During his most recent term, Roberts led the UMWA’s successful fight to preserve health care and pensions for some 90,000 retired miners and widows, fought to preserve jobs for active miners, and bring new high-paying union jobs into the coalfields. 

Sanson assumed the Secretary-Treasurer position in 2021 and has served on the union’s negotiating team for several major contracts. He preserved the union’s financial strength in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding loss of coal jobs and the union’s 23-month-long strike at Warrior Met Coal.

The UMWA’s election process began with a nomination period from June 15-August 1. Candidates must get a minimum of 20 percent of nominations from constituent local unions to qualify for the ballot for any office. No other candidate for President or Secretary-Treasurer received nominations from any local union. In fact, the Roberts/Sanson Leadership Team was elected by acclimation to all but one office in the United States and Canada.