Members of the United Mine Workers are planning a demonstration in western Kentucky to protest the potential loss of benefits for thousands of retired miners and their families, the Associated Press reported yesterday. The union says that it will bring about 30 busloads of miners, retirees and families to Henderson, Ky., on Tuesday to protest plans by Patriot Coal Corp. to modify pensions and health benefits. A federal judge ruled last Wednesday that Patriot can proceed with significant cuts to healthcare and pension benefits to thousands of workers and retirees. The miners' union is planning to appeal. Union leaders allege that Patriot was saddled with unsustainable pension costs when its parent company, Peabody Coal, jettisoned it as a separate company in 2007.
