February 27, 2026 - West Virginia coal miners are calling on state and federal governments for greater support as they face the long-term health consequences of their work.

One in five West Virginia coal miners who work for 25 years will develop coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, known as black lung disease.

Miner Describes Health Struggles

Retired coal miner Gary Hairston described the physical toll of the disease.

“I was working on a feeder down in the field and it started raining. I run up the steps and when I got in the back, I was there saying, ‘I can’t breathe, I’m getting ready to die.’ Cause there wasn’t no air coming in and there wasn’t no air coming out,” Hairston said.

Legislative Recognition, Calls for More Action

The West Virginia Senate recently passed a resolution recognizing the impact coal miners have on the state. Hairston said miners appreciate the support but are looking for more.

“It’s sad that when we try to get something done, we don’t get nowhere. We come. They say they want to do something for us but it never turns out that they help us,” Hairston said.

Hairston said the Black Association has been working for several years to get the West Virginia Legislature to approve a bill providing benefits. He also said coal miners who receive federal benefits need a cost-of-living adjustment.

“We’ve all heard that coal keeps the electric on but it’s really the coal miners. If you didn’t have no coal miners, there wouldn’t be no electric,” Hairston said.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, more than 16% of power was generated by coal in 2023.