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UMWA Workers Continue Protests Against Peabody Coal

More than 1,000 United Mine Workers of America members were back in St. Louis Monday, the latest in a series of protests against Peabody Coal and its handling of their retirement and health care benefits.

St. Louis-based Peabody Coal spun off Patriot in 2007, and made it financially responsible for most retiree benefits. The rally is the first since a bankruptcy judge ruled last month that Patriot can impose sharp cuts in those benefits to get the company profitable again.

UMWA secretary-treasurer Danny Kane was one of thirteen people arrested at the protest. He says the ruling simply "aggravated a sleeping giant."

"That's what you've done," says Kane. "And we resolve to right this wrong and to fight the injustice as long as it takes."

Patriot and the union remain at the negotiating table. The company can impose the benefits cuts on July 1.

Rachel Lippmann covers courts, public safety and city politics for St. Louis Public Radio.
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