September 2, 2025 - He’s a legend on the United Mine Workers of America front. Cecil Roberts has been with the organization for 53 years.

Roberts announced he is stepping down in October as president after 30 years leading the labor group.

He got to connect with so many at the UMWA Labor Day celebration in Racine.

“I’m here almost every year. And it’s always good to be here because you see people that helped get you elected to start with, people you represented to start with. So it’s good. This is family,” Roberts said.

When it comes to achievements, the UMWA president says one is the Pittson strike of 1989.

“All those people passed away except a couple of thousand now. But they would have been without health care if that legislation hadn’t passed,” said Roberts. “Two years after that, we secured the pensions and healthcare for every single person who earned those benefits. So about 100,000 people benefited last year in the coalfields of this country.”

According to the UMWA president, he is proud of all the people at the Labor Day event.

“We should be recognizing workers,” Roberts said. “But the unions in this country built the middle class.”