For much of the first half of the century the United MineWorkers (UMW) was the largest, most important, most powerful, and mostprogressive union in the United States. Among its many accomplishmentswas that it was one of the first to bargain for and winemployer-financed health benefits. Health care was critically importantto miners, many of whom were seriously injured on the job and by middle age were often disabled by black lung disease. In the isolated, ruralmine patches, quality health care was rarely available. In the daysbefore the organization of the UMW's Welfare and Retirement Funds,many miners found that the only health care that was available came fromthe company doctor. This medical practice was usually substandard andwas one of the many ways the operators exercised power over the life ofthe miners, discouraging union and political organizing.