Members of the United Mine Workers and other unions rallied Wednesday in St. Louis.
Hundreds of Coal miners and their supporters marched through the streets of St. Louis before holding a rally in front of the corporate headquarters of Peabody Energy. UMWA District 12 Vice President Steve Earle claims Peabody along with Missouri based Arch Coal created a subsidiary mining company in 2007 known as Patriot Coal to off load more than 500-million dollars in miner health benefits. Patriot has since declared bankruptcy last year. Earle says the health care of more than 20,000 miners and their families in Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia are at risk if Patriot Coal asks the bankruptcy court to release it from its outstanding debts. Miners and unions from as far away as Alabama and West Virginia took part in Wednesday's UMWA rally in St. Louis.
Peabody says it has lived up to its obligations. Company spokesman Vic Svec has said previously that this is a decision for a bankruptcy judge and not the court of public opinion.
UMWA officials say International President Cecil Roberts is scheduled to be in negotiations Wednesday with Patriot Coal in an effort to preserve the miner's medical benefits.
