By Bruce A. Fasol
The Zeigler City council and Mayor Dennis Mitchell have endorsed a letter sent to them by representatives of the United Mine Workers of America. The UMWA is enlisting public support in their campaign against Patriot Coal.
Patriot Coal is a small company formed by Peabody Coal, then Arch Coal, which had contracts with active miners, retired miners and their widows. The letter outlines that Patriot Coal is seeking to set aside these contracts as they enter Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
In part, the letter reads: “the promise of retiree helthcare was negotiated with the local operators and the United Mine Workers of America in recognition of the demanding physical toll that coal mining takes on a miner’s health.”
The letter asks that the elected officials sign a pledge, promising: “I support the United Mine Workers of America in their efforts against Peabody, Arch, and Patriot Coals actions that would jeopardize coal miner’s healthcare and retirement security.”
A second pledge reads: “I call on Peabody, Arch and Patriot Coal to keep the contractually promised lifetime healthcare benefits that they made with their employees …”
Mayor Dennis Mitchell and members of the city council all signed individual pledge letters.
Here is the link to a story that appeared in the Evansville Courier that highlights the ongoing battle by the UMWA to save retirement and health care benefits for thousands of aging miners.
www.courierpress.com/news/2012/aug/28/patriot-herp/
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