UMWA president Cecil Roberts re-elected to new term
Cecil E. Roberts has been elected by acclimation to a sixth full term as international president of the United Mine Workers of America, along with his entire slate of returning and new union officers, the UMWA announced Wednesday.
“I am extremely humbled by this great honor the membership has bestowed upon me,” Roberts said. “And I stand ready to continue to live up to the tremendous responsibilities that come with this office. We have a lot of work to do as we fight to preserve the pensions our retirees have earned and keep our active members working in safe, secure jobs with the best pay and benefits possible.”
Roberts’ running mate, Levi Allen, was elected to his first full term as international secretary-treasurer. Allen was appointed to that post in 2017 upon the retirement of Daniel Kane, and at 37 is the youngest secretary-treasurer in the history of the UMWA.
Elected to the international office and serving on the UMWA’s International Executive Board with Roberts and Allen are at-large international vice presidents Don Barnett, James Gibbs and Donnie Samms.
International district vice presidents include:
- Chuck Knisell, District 2, which covers Pennsylvania, New York and Eastern Canada. Knisell will replace Ed Yankovich, who is retiring;
- Steve Earle, District 12, midwestern United States;
- Gary Trout, District 17, southern West Virginia, southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, Virginia;
- Larry Spencer, District 20, southern U.S.;
- Mike Dalpiaz, District 22, western U.S.;
- Rick Altman, District 31, northern West Virginia, eastern Ohio.
International auditor-tellers are Jody Dukart, Canada; Tanya James, eastern U.S.; and Roy Fernandez, western U.S.
Knisell and Altman will serve on the board for the first time. Trout, Spencer and Dukart will serve their first full terms on the board, having been appointed after retirements by their predecessors.
The UMWA constitution requires a nomination period be held before every international election, beginning June 15 and ending Aug. 1.
Nominations are made during that period at special nomination meetings of local unions. Nomination meetings were held at 308 of the UMWA’s 309 local unions. To be on the ballot, candidates must receive at least 20 percent of local union nominations.
The Roberts leadership team received the nomination of 307 local unions, and, as the only nominees to meet the 20 percent threshold, are automatically elected to five-year terms by acclimation.