CWA Activists Demand Fairness at Patriot

Protesters flood the streets of Charleston, W. Va.

Below: CWA activists from Virginia march toward Patriot Coal’s headquarters.

Virginia CWA activists on Monday traveled to West Virginia to rally to save the retirement and health benefits of thousands of Patriot Coal miners.

CWA Locals 2204 and 2276 and IUE-CWA Locals 82161, 82162 and 82176 participated in the march and rally in Charleston. They joined thousands in flooding the streets, as union activists, faith leaders and elected officials descended on the downtown offices of Patriot Coal. Sixteen labor leaders, clergy and UMWA members were arrested during the non-violent protest.

"This is a crime," said UMWA President Cecil Roberts. "We've been robbed, tricked and lied to. This cannot stand — and with thousands of us from all over the country marching today and keeping up this fight tomorrow, it will not stand."

Patriot Coal recently filed bankruptcy and is now attempting to skirt paying these health care costs to retirees, many of whom worked for Peabody Energy and Arch Coal, the two companies whose spinoffs created Patriot Coal. Peabody Energy had shifted all retiree health obligations to the new company, while only transferring one working mine. It's no surprise that Patriot filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2012. The UMWA charges Peabody with creating Patriot specifically so it could shed its union obligations, and that this new company was designed to fail.

This jeopardizes the health of thousands of these retirees, who now suffer illnesses and injuries caused by their work in the mines, including black lung, cancer and crippling injuries.

Sign the petition to support the UMWA's efforts to maintain the benefits promised by Patriot, Arch and Peabody.