Union to rally outside Patriot Coal over pension benefits

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Washington Times-AP

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The United Mine Workers of America is planning to protest Patriot Coal’s intentions to eliminate its union contract that includes pension contributions.

The union says hundreds of miners are set to rally on Monday afternoon outside the company’s headquarters in Scott Depot.

Patriot filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 12. Patriot wants permission from a federal bankruptcy judge in Virginia to reject the company’s collective bargaining agreement with union miners and change retirees’ health care benefits. Patriot wrote that it would otherwise run out of cash and have to liquidate.

Union president Cecil Roberts says the move would “wipe out generations of progress.” Patriot says it is necessary in order to close on a proposed partial sale to Lexington, Kentucky-based Blackhawk Mining LLC.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/17/union-to-rally-outside-patriot-coal-over-pension-b/

[tabasco]

1. How many of the miners have "Friends of Coal" stickers on their pickup trucks?

When will they learn that Big Coal is not their friend?

[appalachiablue]

2. K & R. This appalling scourge of ripping off miners has been going on a long while.

Same on these scofflaw companies. Best of luck to the miners in this battle.