May 03, 2018

Manchin Releases Report Outlining Severe Pension Crisis Facing American Workers on Anniversary of Securing Miners' Healthcare

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) released a report detailing the pending crisis facing multiemployer pension plans, including the United Mine Workers of America 1974 Pension fund. Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of Senator Manchin securing healthcare benefits for retired miners. To read the Senator Manchin’s full report, click here.

“America’s workers, and especially our coal miners, are the backbone of our economy. For generations, they have deferred their hard-earned wages in order to earn pension benefits for retirement. This report highlights the crisis facing America’s workers if Congress does not act. I’m fighting on the Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans to ensure we come to a bipartisan solution to secure our miners pensions once and for all,” Senator Manchin said.

“I’m not a rich person but if I lose my late husband’s pension I’ll lose everything I have. My husband worked 30 plus years at the mines with the promise we would be taken care of,” Judy Bias from Sharples said. “I have always tried to live within my means but if I lose my pension, me and my grandson who I’m raising will not be able to make it.”

“I have given over 35 years of my life to working in the coal mines. This pension is what keeps food on my table for my family and they depend on me to take care of them. Without this monthly pension, I could not take care of my family as I am doing now,” Carl E. Shepard from Logan said.

“I only draw a small pension of $215.96 each month, but if I lose that I will have to decide between food or utility bills. I am an older disabled coal miner with a small social security check. The loss of my pension check would be devastating,” Benny I. Toler from Oceana said.

“As a retired coal miner my family and I rely greatly on these very modest benefits. Losing or even having my pension reduced would cause great hardship on my family. A coal miner’s pensions are not very much to start with. I am not asking for a hand out only what I have earned through years of hard work,” Ricky Tackett from Hewett said.

As a member of the Joint Select Committee on the Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans, Senator Manchin is fighting for a solution. He’s introduced both the American Miners Pension (AMP) Act and Prioritizing Our Workers Act (POWA).

###