THE A. PHILIP RANDOLPH INSTITUTE DEMANDS THAT PATRIOT, ARCH AND PEABODY LIVE UP TO THEIR CONTRACTED OBLIGATIONS TO ACTIVE AND RETIRED MINERS

Take action by Thursday, April 11, 2013

The A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) Resolution demanding Patriot, Arch, and Peabody live up to their obligations to active and retired miners, their families and widows

WHEREAS, the United Mine Workers of America has secured health care and pensions for retired coal miners, and widows, through decades of collective bargaining; and

WHEREAS, the gains made for working miners as a result of collective bargaining are now being threatened through the use of the morally corrupt bankruptcy proceedings; and

WHEREAS, Peabody’s spin-off of Patriot Coal jeopardizes the current collective bargaining agreement for active UMWA members at Patriot operations; and

WHEREAS, Peabody’s spin-off of Patriot Coal jeopardizes retiree pensions and health care via Patriot’s bankruptcy action; and

WHEREAS, actions taken by Peabody and Arch to shed themselves of contracted health and retirement benefits through corporate greed could also hurt coal miner retirees’ critically-needed pensions and health care; and

WHEREAS, the loss of contracted health care and retirement benefits jeopardizes the health and security of UMWA active, laid off and retired members and their dependents; and

WHEREAS, the loss of contractually promised health care and retirement benefits, if not addressed, could push many local communities into a financial crisis; and

WHEREAS, people of goodwill all have a significant interest in fighting to maintain retiree pensions and health care for our citizens; and

WHEREAS, as engaged members of the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) we, the undersigned, pledge to the United Mine Workers of America and its membership to join in the fight to protect and maintain mine workers’ pensions and health care from assaults by these and other coal operators.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the APRI, call upon Peabody, Arch and Patriot to live up to their obligations to provide coal miners’ health care and retirement security; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the APRI shall stand shoulder to shoulder with the UMWA International and Local Union leadership in this fight; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the APRI call upon others to assist in every means possible to prevent these corporations from stripping from active, laid off, and retired coal miners their contractually-promised lifetime health care benefits.

Date: February 8, 2013 Signed: Clayola Brown, President
and Officers of The National Board of the A. Philip Randolph Institute