http://themilitant.com/2015/7931/793152.html
The Militant (logo)
Vol. 79/No. 31 September 7, 2015
Mineworkers protest Patriot’s
attack on union
Militant/Linda Joyce
SCOTT DEPOT, W.Va. — Hundreds of United Mine Workers of America
members and supporters came from all over West Virginia and parts of
Ohio and Pennsylvania Aug. 17 to march to Patriot Coal’s headquarters
here, protesting the company’s plans to use the bankruptcy process to
ditch its contract with the UMWA and stop payments to the union’s 1974
pension plan.
“We worked all our lives and now we may lose our pensions,” said Ermal
Jay Walker, a retired miner and member of UMWA Local 93 from Mingo
County. “We made them billions and now they say they are out of money.”
Representatives of the United Steelworkers, building trades and painters
unions, American Federation of Government Employees, Communications
Workers of America and others came to support the coal miners.
“Don’t let the wealthy get their money first,” Daniel Kane, UMWA
secretary treasurer, told the rally. “We need economic justice for
everyone.” He called for Congress to change U.S. bankruptcy laws. UMWA
President Cecil Roberts, third from right behind banner above, marched
and addressed the rally.
“We cannot turn our backs on what has already been promised,” Barbara
Ward, a coal miner for 35 years and member of UMWA Local 1713 in
Pineville, told the Militant. ”We need to make our voices heard —
whatever it takes!”
— LINDA JOYCE
Related articles:
Steelworkers fight bosses’ demands for concessions
Solidarity actions set when contracts expire Sept. 1
Nonunion construction deaths on rise in New York
On the Picket Line
Don Rasmussen: Stalwart of miners’ fight for safety
How coal miners’ struggles transformed union
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home