March 5, 2026 - The United Mine Worker of America held its 63rd annual memorial service remembering the Robena Mine Disaster on Saturday, December 6, 2025, near Carmichaels, Pennsylvania.  Around 1:05 p.m. that fateful day, coal dust and methane gas ignited killing 37 miners.   Families were torn apart.  Women became widows.  Children no longer had a father. 

Both President Sanson and Secretary-Treasurer Michael Phillippi attended this year’s event and spoke to those in attendance. Sanson being the keynote speaker.  District 2 International Vice President Chuck Knisell emceed the service and District 2 International Vice President Emeritus Ed Yankovich gave opening remarks and read the names of the fallen at the conclusion of the ceremony. 

“The work life of those miners in the Robena Mine 63 years ago, unfortunately, is still recognizable to miners today, and it’s unacceptable,” said Secretary-Treasurer Phillippi. 

“I have heard statements from survivors of Robena, and the bottom line is the company chose production over safety.   Here we are six decades down the road, and our miners are still facing the same issues,” Phillippi said.

“Something needs to be done to protect our miners, and the UMWA has and will continue to always fight for the most important thing to come out of the mine, and that’s the miner.” 

President Sanson spoke of MSHA’s pausing of the silica rule and the affects it has on miners today.  “MSHA is not inspecting the mines the way they used to, and it’s upsetting to watch this happen,” he said.

“MSHA paused the enforcement of the silica rule earlier this year while our miners are still working and getting black lung at higher rates,” Sanson said.  “It is disappointing to see an agency that was put in place for the safety of miners seems to be doing the exact opposite. 

“Mining disasters do not discriminate.  If a disaster happens, it is going to kill everybody, and MSHA seems to not understand that.  MSHA seems to be taking sides with the companies to stop the implementation of the silica rule,” Sanson said. 

“We have been fighting for this rule for years and now we continue to wait,” Sanson said. “People are dying today because of silica dust getting in their lungs, and that’s going to continue to happen without this rule in place.  

“MSHA and the billionaire CEOs of these companies pretend they do not understand the ramifications, but the United Mine Workers of America understands all too well. We will never stop fighting for the protections that our nation’s miners deserve,” Sanson said. 

All but three of the miners who lost their lives in the Robena explosion had more than 20 years of mining experience.  Thirty-four wives lost their husbands; sixty-four children lost their fathers and three became orphans after the Robena No. 3 mine explosion.