Vol. 77/No. 16      April 29, 2013

Militant/David Rosenfeld

ST. LOUIS — One thousand members of the United Mine Workers of America from Illinois to Alabama gathered here April 16 in their continuing battle against Patriot Coal, which is using bankruptcy proceedings to tear up union contracts and gut health care and pensions for retired miners. Peabody Energy spun off almost all of its union mines to form Patriot Coal in 2007. Patriot then declared bankruptcy in July 2012. The miners marched through downtown to Memorial Park across the street from Peabody’s headquarters, chanting “U-M-W-A.” There they placed white crosses in the ground. “Six hundred sixty-six of 1,000 crosses represent miners who lost their lives at Patriot, Arch and Peabody mines,” said UMWA International Vice President Steve Earle. “The remaining crosses are for lives of miners that will be lost if Patriot eliminates health care for retirees and safety for active miners.” The union is organizing buses for a major demonstration April 29, timed with the start of the main bankruptcy hearings here. Dan Kane, UMWA secretary-treasurer, said miners from Australia will come to the rally and “then we are going over there.” Peabody owns 11 mines in Australia. At the rally were delegations from unions in St. Louis, including UNITE HERE, United Steelworkers and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

—ALYSON KENNEDY