About Cecil E. Roberts

Cecil Edward Roberts, Jr. is a sixth-generation coal miner, decorated Vietnam veteran, and one of the most respected labor leaders in American history. Raised in a union household on Cabin Creek in Kanawha County, West Virginia, Roberts carried on a powerful family legacy, his great-uncle was legendary union organizer Bill Blizzard, and both of his grandfathers were killed in the mines.

Roberts began working underground at Carbon Fuels’ No. 31 mine and quickly emerged as a leader. After serving as Vice President of UMWA District 17, he rose to UMWA International Vice President in 1982, then succeeded Richard Trumka as President in 1995, a position he held until his retirement in October 2025.

During his 30-year presidency, Roberts led one of the most significant strikes in modern labor history, the 1989 Pittston Strike, and secured critical victories for miners and their families, including historic pension protections, healthcare security, and improved national labor contracts. Under his leadership, the union achieved groundbreaking pension provisions like 20- and 30-year-and-out regardless of age.

A powerful orator and lifelong advocate for workers and veterans, Roberts also served on the AFL-CIO Executive Council, chairing several key committees. He received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the Rainbow Coalition, the Legion of Honor from the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, and awards from the Vietnam Veterans of America.

In 2022, WVU Medicine honored Roberts by naming its new pediatric cardiac wing the Cecil E. Roberts, United Mine Workers of America WVU Children’s Heart Wing, reflecting his commitment to improving lives beyond the mines.

Cecil E. Roberts’ leadership reshaped the modern labor movement and left a lasting legacy for generations of miners. He lives with his wife, Carolyn, and is a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.