An estimated crowd of around 2,000 turned out for a United Mine Workers Rally Wednesday in Marion.
Miners and their families from at least five states heard from UMWA International President Cecil Roberts about the effort to preserve retiree health care and pension benefits.
Roberts told the gathering that being in a union means fighting alongside your brothers and sisters for what they've earned.
"It's not about one person. It's not about two people. It's about a hundred thousand of us who have made up our mind that we're going to stand, and we're going to fight, and we don't care who it's against."
Fred Frederking of Coulterville was a coal miner with Peabody for 32 years. He says the UMWA has a record of winning in court against coal corporations who are trying to break their promises. He says this fight will be no different.
"It will be successful because we're not going to quit. They found out in St. Louis. We was there for a year."
Frederking is referring to the fight against Peabody's spinoff Patriot Coal.
Roberts says over 100,000 coal miners have paid for these benefits with their lives. On top of that, Roberts says miners have fueled the world's economy for 70 years.
"We have made this nation great. We have made millionaires and we have made billionaires. This economy in the United States wouldn't be what it was, what it is, without us. I don't think we're doing a thing here, not a thing, but asking for...what we want is justice."
Bill Burklow from Eldorado is a retired coal miner who says he and his fellow union members just want what is rightfully theirs.
"I worked in the coal mine for 34 years. I thinks every man and woman here has earned their pension. We're not asking for a handout. We're asking for what we've earned."
State Senator Gary Forby attended the rally. He says preserving these benefits is a personal issue for him.
"I growed up in a coal mining family. My dad was a UMWA worker. My brother was a UMWA worker. We've always worked around coal mines. It's supported my family, done a heck of a job. They had good benefits, good retirement."
There is legislation in Congress to ensure UMWA retirees who lose health care benefits following the bankruptcy of their employer would be eligible for an existing benefit plan under the Coal Act.
