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In what has become a familiar sight this spring, thousands of current and retired coal miners will rally in the streets of downtown Monday morning to protest wage and benefits cuts proposed by Patriot Coal Corp. as part of the company’s bankruptcy.
As usual, there will be signs, speeches by United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, and maybe even more arrests.
The key difference between this demonstration and previous ones is that at the same time union members assemble outside the courthouse, a judge will convene a hearing, the outcome of which could affect their lives for years to come.
Efforts to reduce costs from union labor contracts and retiree benefits is just one of many issues in a large, complex bankruptcy, but one that’s pivotal for the company and thousands of its employees and retirees.
Patriot, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July, says it has cut costs “to the bone.” It closed unprofitable mines, altered contracts and leases and slashed its workforce as well as pay and benefits for nonunion employees, managers and executives.
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good turn out of granite city folks.
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