MAY 7, 2020

[TRIANGLE, VA.] United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:

“The entire UMWA family joins me in mourning the passing of our General Counsel, Chuck Donnelly, who left us peacefully yesterday evening in Charleston, West Virginia. We lift his family up in our prayers and hold them in our hearts at this most difficult time.

“Chuck was a Marine veteran who served our nation in combat in Vietnam. He was a brilliant labor lawyer whose dedication to treating workers fairly made the lives of countless UMWA members and their families better throughout his long career in West Virginia and at the UMWA’s International headquarters in Virginia.

“Chuck Donnelly was a friend of mine and every working-class person he ever met. People like Chuck do not come along very often, and it hurts when they leave us. But he was a great believer in the words of Mother Jones, ‘Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living!’ We will honor his memory by doing exactly that, because Chuck would be the first to tell us there are many fights that still confront us.

“So long, my friend. Until we meet again.”