UMWA applauds appointment of Eugene White to head West Virginia mine safety office

[TRIANGLE, VA] – United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s appointment of Eugene White to lead the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training (WVOMHST) is very good news for West Virginia coal miners.

“I have great confidence that Eugene will be a strong advocate for miners as Director of the WVOMHST. He sees mine safety and health issues from the perspective of the miners, because he is a miner. Eugene understands that the most precious resource in any mine is the miner, not the coal.

"I commend Gov. Tomblin for making this appointment. It was the right call to make. I also want to thank C.A. Phillips for his years of dedicated service to West Virginia miners.  With C.A.'s retirement, miners needed another strong voice on their side heading that office, and Eugene White fits that bill perfectly."