CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — About 175 West Virginia coal mining families are picketing in St. Louis as the United Mine Workers of America tries to salvage health care benefits for retirees and widows from Patriot Coal's bankruptcy.
Miners from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio are also planning to join the protest Tuesday outside the federal building and the headquarters of one company the union blames for the bankruptcy, Peabody Energy.
The bankruptcy affects more than 10,000 retirees and 10,000 dependents, mostly in those states.
Patriot calls its pension and health care programs unsustainable legacies.
A judge moved Patriot's case to St. Louis in November. An $802 million financing package is letting it continue operating while it restructures.
The Charleston Daily Mail (http://bit.ly/WqEYZQ ) says the UMWA posted billboard and TV ads ahead of the hearing.
___
Information from: Charleston Daily Mail, http://www.dailymail.com
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
