Miners Protest in St. Louis over Patriot Coal Bankruptcy
By: Chris Veech
Updated: January 29, 2013
Miners from Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky spend the day outside Peabody Energy Headquarters in St. Louis protesting Patriot Coal's bankruptcy. They joined others from West Virginia and Ohio trying to salvage health care benefits for retirees and widows from the mining company. The bankruptcy affects more than 10,000 retirees and 10,000 dependents. Patriot calls its pension and health care programs unsustainable legacies. The company owns three mines in Henderson and Union Counties but is closing one of them in Henderson.
Comments
My family have worked the mines prior to my birth in 1961 and continue to risk their lives heating and powering our businesses and homes. Many rely solely on their Pensions and have great need of the health insurance as black lung is not preventable to 100 percent and are not at Social Security retirement age. Those that broke their backs for us and made Patriot owners rich are now to have their JUST DUES taken? How dare we let this pass? How dare Patriot Coal and their pocketbooks and wallets!!! When vested they earn and deserve dividends. The late Senator Byrd is "rolling over in his grave"and you are to have the funds supposedly protected? Instead you are trying to worm your way out of all they need to survive after retirement. Social Security is not enough for all they have done for us and YOU! Patriot! The federal government must listen!!!! Tristate? Are you doing everything you can to inform our elected officials and the Attorney General? Has he been given this "NEWS"? I sure pray you do.....
Alicia D.
January 30, 2013 at 9:57 pm
My family have worked the mines prior to my birth in 1961 and continue to risk their lives heating and powering our businesses and homes. Many rely solely on their Pensions and have great need of the health insurance as black lung is not preventable to 100 percent and are not at Social Security retirement age. Those that broke their backs for us and made Patriot owners rich are now to have their JUST DUES? How dare we let this pass? How dare Patriot Coal and their pocketbooks and wallets!!! When vested they earn and you have the funds supposedly protected? The US Federal government must listen!!!! Tristae? Are you doing everything you can to inform our elected officials know this "NEWS"? I sure pray you do
Alicia D.
January 30, 2013 at 9:38 pm
