LABOR DAY RALLY UMW Head Says Working Miners And Retirees Differ On Who Should Be U.S. President
Reported by: Bob Aaron
Videographer: Bob Aaron
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Sep. 3, 2012 5:46 PM EDT
Updated: Sep. 4, 2012 9:38 AM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Racine
, Boone County
, West Virginia
Political candidates courted hundreds of miners and their families at the United Mine Workers union Labor Day celebration in Boone County.
It was the 74th year for the labor celebration there. Politics mixed with music and food in the daylong tribute to working men and women in Racine. UMW President Cecil Roberts said the union has no endorsement for president. He said working miners are fearful the aggressive rule making of Barack Obama's EPA will cost them their jobs while union retirees fear Mitt Romney will undermine Social Security.
Roberts said pensioners and retirees “are probably leaning toward Obama and the actives are leaning, not necessarily for Romney, but they're very much concerned about their future. I don't blame them. I understand wholeheartedly. If I was working in a coal mine now, I'd want to know that I was going to be able to keep my job. "
The rally stressed organized labor's contributions to good paying jobs, benefits and workplace safety, but the UMW does not have an official pick for president as the fall campaign unofficially gets under way.
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Bob Aaron
