The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.26           July 28, 1997 
 
 
New Black Lung Regulations Are `Not Miner Friendly'  

BY DAVID SALNER
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia - Over 300 mine workers and their supporters gathered in Charleston, West Virginia, June 19 at the Civic Center for a hearing on new regulations to determine eligibility for black lung benefits. Black lung is an occupational disease affecting workers, primarily miners, who breath coal dust. A powerful social protest movement centered in West Virginia won governmental recognition of the disease in 1969.

The stated aim of the new regulations is to streamline the process, lower costs, and reduce waiting time for recipients. But Mike South, president of the National Black Lung Association, termed the proposed changes as "not miner friendly" in a telephone interview following the hearing.

United Mine Workers of America president Cecil Roberts was also at the hearings and warned about the rule changes.

Of the 6,000 who will apply for benefits this year, only 440 - 7 percent - will receive them. "The coal companies have all of the money to hire lawyers and consultants and supposed experts to say the miner has something wrong with him except black lung," Imajean Price said at the hearing, the Charleston Gazette reported. Price's husband Halbert died a year ago of black lung disease from 38 years in the mines. Price is still fighting for her husband's benefits.

One of the rule changes would require miners to submit all their evidence at the first stage of the application process, a requirement that South pointed out few disabled miners could afford. In contrast, he said, coal companies will often spend between $20,000 and $30,000 to defeat one black lung claim. "According to the NIOSH [National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health] figures, 2,100 miners die a year from black lung. That's six every day," said South, a miner who is disabled with black lung. "The coal industry calls black lung benefits `welfare for coal miners.' I'd like them to spend one day in the shoes of this welfare recipient."

South pointed out that black lung benefits are on the chopping block because they're considered entitlements. Other proposed cuts will hit black lung victims also, including the projected raise in the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. Oxygen bottles that black lung patients need are often paid for out of these funds.

David Salner is a member of Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Local 3-276.  
 
 
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