Source: Associated Press
Peabody Energy Corp. President and Chief Executive Gregory H. Boyce
received compensation last year valued at approximately $3.7 million,
according to a regulatory filing Monday. (MORE >>>)
For more information visit http://www.justiceatpeabody.org
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2007
Contact: Phil Smith
(703) 208-7241
United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts issued the following statement today:
“Yesterday’s passage of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) by the U.S. House of Representatives marks the first step toward returning basic human rights to American working families. For too long, employers have had a free hand to flout labor law in this country with little expectation of receiving anything more than a slap on the wrist from a complicit federal government.
“EFCA would change that, by giving employees the right to form a union at any workplace if a majority sign a card saying they want a union. Majority rule is the basis of democracy; why should it be any different for workers who want to have a voice on the job?
“For coal miners, EFCA will mean that and more. The grim numbers from America’s coalfields don’t lie: 42 of the 47 coal miners killed on the job in 2006 were working in non-union mines. Union mines are safer mines, plain and simple.
“With EFCA as the law of the land, the climate of fear and intimidation that exists today in non-union mines would be washed away. No longer would coal operators be able to fire union supporters almost at will. No longer would they be able to whisper threats of closing mines if a union is organized. No longer would miners concerned about safety in the mines be faced with a choice of keeping quiet and keeping their jobs, or speaking out and getting fired.
“It’s critical that the U.S. Senate take up this legislation and pass it as soon as possible to keep the flame of workers’ rights and human rights burning ever brighter in American workplaces, including our coal mines.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE www.justiceatpeabody.org
FEBRUARY 9, 2007
CONTACT: Phil Smith
703-208-7241
571-345-8338
UMWA reaches agreement with Peabody Energy on new 5-year agreement
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil E. Roberts told a meeting of UMWA local union officers who had gathered in Charleston, W. Va., today to discuss a looming strike against Peabody Energy that the union has reached an agreement with the company for a new five-year contract.
“This agreement mirrors the Bituminous Coal Operators’ Association (BCOA) agreement in every respect,” Roberts said, referring to the agreement the UMWA negotiated with the BCOA in late December of last year. “Peabody has agreed to the terms and conditions of the National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement at every mine where the previous agreement had expired.
Roberts noted that the current agreement at Peabody's Highland mine in western Kentucky does not expire until the end of 2007. "We have been and will continue to talk with the company about accepting the provisions of the national agreement at that mine either before the current agreement expires there or at the expiration of that agreement," he said.
"We believe this is a fair agreement for our members," Roberts said. "It's also a fair agreement for Peabody, just as it is for every other coal company, no matter where they operate--be it West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama or the Midwest. It meets both the miners' and the companies' needs as our industry moves forward to continue meeting America's power generation demands.
“This victory is largely due to the strength and unity of our members," Roberts said. “Without their solidarity, Peabody would not have gotten the message that we were serious about getting the national agreement at all the Peabody mines that were working without a new contract. But the company eventually got that message, and they understood that our members were willing to stand together and do whatever it took to get a new agreement.”
Like the BCOA agreement, the Peabody contract calls for an immediate across-the-board raise of $1.50 per hour, and a total wage increase of $4.00 per hour over the life of the agreement. Peabody has agreed to make these increases retroactive to January 1 of this year. UMWA members will also receive a $1,000 bonus.
The contract maintains current health care benefits and makes improvements in prescription drug formularies. Members with 19 or more years of service will receive another vacation day, and there are increases in the clothing allowance, sickness and accident coverage, life insurance, and other benefits. As a contributor to the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds, Peabody was already locked into the pension increases that were negotiated with the BCOA.
UMWA members working at Peabody mines voted to ratify the BCOA agreement in late December 2006. Since this agreement is not different from the BCOA agreement, they
will not have to vote again.
For more information visit:
http://www.umwa.org
http://www.justiceatpeabody.org
Click play button to view video.
For more information visit http://www.justiceatpeabody.org
The Catholic Committee of the South and the Catholic Committee of Appalachia both formally adopted resolutions on December 12th supporting the right of Peabody Energy coal miners to organize a union without interference from Peabody management.
The resolution, entitled "A Call for Justice at Peabody Energy," urges the nation's largest coal company "to be truly neutral with respect to employees' rights to form or join a union and to voluntarily recognize a union when a majority of their employees sign authorizations."
Both committees are a network of Catholic ministers—lay, ordained and professed—who work throughout their respective areas. The groups study social problems confronting the Church in there regions—and helps find viable solutions. The Catholic Committee of the South has recently been involved with poultry workers and their fight for safe and better working conditions while the Catholic Committee of Appalachia has in times past been instrumental in bringing the plight of the working poor to the forefront of the fight for justice.
”It is both a God-given and legal right of each and every worker to join a union and it is the bishops' voice that coercion and intimidation not deny this right," said Father Les Schmidt, special liaison to the Catholic Bishops of the South.
Hundreds of non-union miners at Peabody's facilities across the country have requested assistance from the United Mine Workers of America to organize a union. In December 2005, the UMWA responded by launching the Justice at Peabody campaign.
Copies of the resolutions were sent to Peabody CEO Greg Boyce.
Justice at Peabody
http://www.justiceatpeabody.org
At its December 13, 2006 meeting, the Percy Village Council (Il.) unanimously passed a resolution supporting the right of Peabody miners to organize a union free from management interference. The village’s passage of the workers’ rights resolution followed unanimous passage of a similar resolution by nearby Ellis Grove on November 6. The Percy resolution passed 7-0 and the Ellis Grove resolution passed 6-0.
“We passed the resolution to support all of our local citizens,” said Ellis Grove Board Member Glen McCoy. “All workers should have a choice about unionization”
The resolutions state that Peabody should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolutions request that Peabody remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolutions also request that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which employees can make a decision about unionization.
Peabody Energy coal miners and their supporters launched the Justice at Peabody campaign in December, 2005 to call on Peabody Energy to allow workers to organize a union free from employer intimidation and harassment. Since that time, over a dozen communities in four states have passed resolutions and over 600 religious leaders have signed a statement in support of the right of Peabody miners to organize unions free from management interference.
A copy of the passed resolutions will be sent to Peabody’s CEO Greg Boyce.
For further information visit http://www.justiceatpeabody.org
Source: Charleston Daily Mail
On Dec. 5, several of my clergy colleagues, other faith partners and I, representing Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice, organized and participated in a prayer vigil at the Kanawha Eagle mine near Chesapeake.
On Dec. 9, the Daily Mail wrote an editorial, "Democracy: Secret ballots protect workers from companies and unions," questioning our actions.
As we left the sacred corridors of our churches and took prayer to the doors of the workplace, the newspaper has entered into the proverbial sacred space of reconciliation and justice. Welcome!
Kanawha Eagle is 49 percent owned by Peabody Energy, the world's largest private-sector coal company. We organized the vigil to pray for reconciliation and the right of workers to choose.
Reconciliation begins with the basic religious teaching -- "the golden rule." Found in most major religions, the Christian version is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
We pray that Peabody Energy as well as the union will embrace this basic teaching.
In a world where corporate profits and "bottom lines" dominate decisions about jobs, employee benefits, job security and safety, we think a new "golden rule" has conveniently nudged out the old: "Ye, who has the gold (or in this case, coal) makes the rules."
Our view is Peabody uses its corporate power to interfere with the basic American right to organize employee unions.
Our prayer vigil confirmed how employer intimidation blocks the ability of miners to make a free choice.
When praying outside the mine and offering leaflets to miners as they drove by, the supervisor of the mine and two others pulled up in his Bronco and watched the miners driving into work.
Miners who were about to stop and take a leaflet pulled away as soon as they noticed their supervisor watching them. When the supervisor left, miners took the leaflets.
Unfortunately, Peabody management chose to remain in their automobile instead of accepting our invitation to join in our prayer vigil.
We must remember that employers have the power to hire, fire, impose disciplinary action, or threaten to close a mine.
This incident demonstrated the power imbalance between employer and employee; even silent interference by an employer intimidates workers.
It takes enormous courage for pro-union workers to express their views openly in an environment controlled by an anti-union employer.
We must ask: How are workers to make an informed choice under those
The newspaper states that the Employee Free Choice Act "would do away with secret ballots."
The act provides workers a choice: They can choose card check or a secret ballot election.
Under the present law only the employer chooses.
All of us have to ask: In our heart of hearts, where do we stand? Are we first with the worker or the company?
As people of faith, we are called to stand with the worker.
Coal mining is dangerous work. Laborers in the mines deserve to have their own voice on the job.
Our faith teachings say the freedom to join a union is a basic human right. Workers, not managers, should make the decision.
Our hope for further prayer and engagement on this vital concern is not with the Daily Mail, but with Peabody and local Peabody companies.
Speaking for Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice, we pray that companies and workers will embrace the teachings of the real golden rule and do what is just and right for mine workers and future mine workers in West Virginia.
Sparks is executive director of the West Virginia Council of Churches.
Click below to download the latest edition of the
Justice at Peabody News.
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For more information visit www.justiceatpeabody.org
Over 500 American religious leaders from all faiths agree:
Peabody miners and their families have the right to stand up for themselves and form a union without fear of intimidation or repercussion.
They are telling Peabody, “We, as religious leaders, call upon Peabody Energy to refrain from intimidating, threatening and fi ring miners who are working to organize a union. We ask Peabody to be truly neutral with respect to employees’ rights to form or join a union and to voluntarily recognize a union when a majority of their employees sign authorizations.”
Source: Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice
Comfort, Wv. – Local clergy, miners, spouses, and supporters held a prayer vigil outside the 49% Peabody owned Kanawha Eagle coal mine on December 5, in support of miners organizing a union with the United Mine Workers of America.
For the past year, Peabody miners and their supporters throughout the coalfields have been calling on Peabody to allow workers the choice to organize unions free from management intimidation and harassment. The prayer vigil, organized by Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice, commemorated the one-year anniversary of the public launch of the campaign.
During the vigil, participants prayed for Peabody Energy to embrace religious teachings calling on employers not to interfere in their workers’ decision to organize and prayed for God to strengthen the miners in the face of interference from Peabody management.
“It takes spirit, God-given spirit to organize,” said the Reverend Jim Lewis, a Charleston Episcopal priest and founding member of Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice (RLCJ). “Miners know they have to organize for their safety, job security, family and community. And nobody better get in their way or try to stop them. Spirit-filled miners have power.”
Over 600 religious leaders have signed a statement calling on Peabody Energy “to refrain from intimidating, threatening and firing miners who are working to organize a union,” and “to be truly neutral with respect to employees’ rights to form or join a union and to voluntarily recognize a union when a majority of their employees sign authorizations.”
At the national level, fifty-six faith and community groups have taken the position that an employer’s power over its employees makes any interference by management in the decision of its workers to join a union inherently coercive and that the National Labor Relations Board election system is routinely manipulated by employers to deprive workers of their right to organize.
"I have no choice but to stand with the miners who seek to organize a union at Peabody, because their right to organize has been denied by the company," said the Reverend Dennis Sparks, Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches and member of RLCJ. "As a Christian, it is an issue of justice. My prayer is for a reconciliation between miners and the company."
The faith groups have endorsed democratic card-check neutrality procedures as the most effective way to determine the wishes of employees. Under card-check neutrality, employers agree to remain neutral and to voluntarily recognize a union when a majority of their employees sign cards saying they want to join.
Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice is an organization of clergy and other religious leaders committed to justice for coal miners and all residents of coalfield communities.
At its November 30, 2006 meeting, the Fayette County (W.Va.) Commission unanimously passed a resolution supporting the right of Peabody miners to organize a union free from management interference. The county’s passage of the workers’ rights resolution followed unanimous passage of similar resolutions by two town councils in West Virginia--Glasgow on November 20 and Handley on November 14.
"On behalf of the Fayette County Commission, we are proud to support the men and women of Fayette County,” said County Commission President Matthew D. Wender.
The resolutions state that Peabody should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolutions request that Peabody should remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolutions also request that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
Peabody Energy coal miners and their supporters launched the Justice at Peabody campaign in December, 2005 to call on Peabody Energy to allow workers to organize a union free from employer intimidation and harassment. Since that time, over a dozen communities in four states have passed resolutions and over 600 religious leaders have signed statements in support of the right of Peabody miners to organize unions free from management interference.
A copy of the passed resolutions will be sent to Peabody’s CEO Greg Boyce.
For more information visit www.justiceatpeabody.org
Zeigler, Il. – At its October 24 meeting, the City Council of Zeigler passed a resolution supporting the right of Peabody miners to organize a union free from interference from management. The resolution passed by a vote of 3-0 with one abstention.
“Our city has a long history of support for the United Mine Workers,” said Mayor Dennis Mitchell. “Coalminers and the coal industry have and are an important part of our lives.”
The resolution states that Peabody should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that Peabody should remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that Peabody should agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
A copy of the passed resolution will be sent to Peabody’s CEO Greg Boyce.
For more information visit www.justiceatpeabody.org
Last week, we reported that Peabody Energy workers are hitting the stumps to let congressional candidates know the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act and the freedom to form a union to working families.
Today, dozens of Peabody workers from West Virginia joined members of the Mine Workers
(UMWA) union and other union supporters to rally in Washington, D.C., to let the CEO of Peabody know they will not stop their fight until the company honors their freedom to form a union and agrees to remain neutral when workers seek a union. The workers also want
Peabody to agree to a majority recognition (card-check) process in which the company recognizes the union if a majority of workers signs union authorization cards. (MORE >>>)
By David M. Quinn
Steeleville Ledger Editor
Representative from the United Mine Workers of America union approached
members of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, Monday morning, to
sign a resolution asking Peabody Energy Corporation to allow workers in their
mines to have the free will to choose whether or not to unionize.
Peabody currently has eight of its 30 mining operations represented by unions.
According to Kristopher Mallory, community organizer for UMWA, the efforts was to
gain community, county, town, civic and spiritual support for the mine workers
while making this decision.
“We’re trying to get these entities to stand behind the workers. This is without any
form of intimidation. We want the company (Peabody Energy Corporation) to
remain neutral and allow their employees under the National Labor Relations Act
to give their workers the freedom to choose without using feat tactics and without
intimidation,” Mallory said. (MORE >>>)
Henderson, Ky. – At its September 19 meeting, the Henderson County Fiscal
Court passed a resolution supporting the right coal miners to organize a union
free from interference from management. The resolution passed by a vote of 4-0.
Henderson County Magistrate Hugh McCormick submitted the resolution at the
request of miners at nearby Peabody Energy coal mines who are organizing a
union.
“We support every working man and woman to make a dollar - we want every
working man or woman to be able to support his family,” said McCormick.
The resolution states that all coal companies should allow its employees to
choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that coal companies
should remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as
mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form
of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that coal companies
should agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make
a decision about unionization.
A copy of the passed resolution will be sent to Peabody’s CEO Greg Boyce.
www.justiceatpeabody.org
Oakland City, Ind. - The city council of Oakland City unanimously passed a www.justiceatpeabody.org | |||
Source: WFIE TV 14
New Media Producer: Kerry Corum
Some miners in Kentucky want better benefits and increased safety on the job.
The Kentucky Rights Board held a hearing Sunday night in Henderson, so miners could voice their opinion about those issues. They say they want the option to join a union to get better treatment.
The group is putting together a letter of recommendation to send to Peabody Coal Company, asking them to let miners vote on whether to join a union.
Peabody officials were invited to attend Sunday night's meeting, but they didn't show up.
www.justiceatpeabody.org
September 12, 2006
Media Contact:
Will Tanzman
Office 773-728-8400 x16
Cell 614-563-1744
***Interview opportunity
wtanzman@iwj.org
Religious leaders report that Peabody coal miners suffer abuse
CHICAGO – Two national interfaith religious organizations jointly released a report today detailing the abuse of mine workers in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and West Virginia by the St. Louis-based coal company Peabody Energy Corp. (NYSE: BTU).
The report, entitled “Peabody Energy: Rights Denied and Promises Broken,” was issued by Interfaith Worker Justice and Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice. It is the result of an investigation by Protestant, Catholic and Jewish religious leaders of working conditions in Peabody’s non-union coal mines. Miners at Peabody’s operations have been attempting to organize with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) but the campaign has met with resistance by Peabody management. The religious leaders traveled to the western Kentucky coalfields in July for two days and heard testimony from miners, pensioners, local clergy and elected officials.
According to Richard Riggle, one of the miners employed by Peabody quoted in the report, “Peabody treats their workers like a piece of equipment; if it breaks down they discard it and replace it. Once you're hurt, you can expect to be fired.”
“I am appalled by Peabody’s mistreatment of its workers,” says Rev. Teresa Mithen, pastor of St. John Episcopal Church in St. Louis. “Coal miners deserve the right to organize a union without intimidation and harassment from management.”
Miners told the religious leaders about a number of disturbing practices that they say prevail at Peabody’s non-union mines. These alleged practices include miners losing their jobs because they get hurt in the mines and the company intimidating workers who seek to address workplace grievances by organizing with the UMWA. In addition, retired union miners receive lifetime health care, while non-union retirees are generally left without health insurance.
“The miners’ testimony points to a pervasive pattern of disrespect and abuse of power on the part of Peabody’s management towards its workers,” explains Edie Rasell, Minister for Labor Relations and Community Economic Development of the United Church of Christ and a board member of Interfaith Worker Justice.
The report also points out safety concerns in non-union mines, noting that “of the 37 U. S. coal miners who died in mine accidents this year, 34 were in non-union mines,” including the twelve miners killed in the Sago disaster in West Virginia in January.
The investigation and report follows a statement signed by 550 religious leaders that was issued in April urging Peabody Energy “to refrain from intimidating, threatening and firing miners who are
working to organize a union. “ The clergy further asked Peabody “to be truly neutral with respect to employees’ rights to form or join a union and to voluntarily recognize a union when a majority of their employees sign authorizations.”
The report can be downloaded at www.iwj.org. A spokesperson from Interfaith Worker Justice will present the report’s findings at a Workers’ Rights Board Hearing sponsored by Kentucky Jobs with Justice on Sept. 17 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at Zion United Church of Christ (437 First St.) in Henderson, Ky.
Rev. Teresa Mithen, Pastor, St. John Episcopal Church, St. Louis
Office phone (314) 772-3970
Cell phone (314) 503-7415
X X X
Story courtesy of Interfaith Workers Justice
In late April, representatives of Religious Leaders for Coalfield Justice gathered in
St. Louis for a press conference to announce public support for the 3,000 coal
miners at Peabody Energy who are seeking to gain a voice in the workplace.
Peabody’s national headquarters is in St. Louis, and the press conference was
held just a few blocks away at Christ Church Episcopal. There, a group of clergy,
including IWJ Board member Rev. Jim Sessions, demonstrated support for the
workers’ efforts.
“The union is what helped us raise our family, and I believe in it,” said Carol
Smith, the wife of Sonny Smith, a coal miner who worked for Peabody Energy for
36 years. He is now an active retiree in the United Mine Workers of America
(UMWA). (MORE >>>)
www.justiceatpeabody.org
Sunday, September 17, 2006:
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White Plains, KY - The White Plains City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the right of the area’s Peabody Energy coal miners’ to organize a union free from employer interference. The resolution passed by a vote of 4-0 on August 8.
“Coalminers are the most precious resource that the coal industry has,” said Mayor Pro-tem and city councilman Noel Hardwick. “They deserve to be treated fairly and honestly in all negotiations. When it comes to their safety and health they need to be taken care of.”
The resolution states that Peabody Energy Corp., the world’s largest private sector coal company, should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that Peabody remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
A copy of the passed resolution will be sent to Peabody Energy's CEO Greg Boyce.
For more information visit www.justiceatpeabody.org
Sturgis, KY - The Sturgis City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the right of the area’s Peabody Energy coal miners’ to organize a union free from employer interference. The resolution passed by a vote of 5-0 on July 14.
The resolution states that Peabody Energy Corp., the world’s largest private sector coal company, should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that Peabody remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
The unanimous passage of the Sturgis resolution follows upon Uniontown’s city council’s unanimous passage of the same resolution on Monday and Morganfield’s city council’s unanimous passage of it on June 22. The Union County Fiscal Court also passed it unanimously on March 28.
A copy of the passed resolution will be sent to Peabody Energy's CEO Greg Boyce.
Uniontown, KY - The Uniontown City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the rights of the area’s Peabody Energy coal miners to organize a union free from employer interference. The resolution passed by a vote of 5-0 on July 10.
“The decision to go union is the workers' alone, not Peabody Energy's,” said Uniontown mayor Kevin Ferguson. “This resolution makes that perfectly clear.”
The resolution states that Peabody Energy Corp., the world’s largest private sector coal company, should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that Peabody remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
The Union County Council passed a similar resolution on March 28.
Source: Louisville Courier-Journal
The news that 119 self-contained self-rescuers (SCSRs), the kind used by coal miners throughout America, have been found to be defective in ongoing inspections by the state of Kentucky lends credence to the reports of survivors of recent coal mine tragedies in Kentucky and West Virginia that these units are not working as they should.
The findings demonstrate how critical it is for immediate and more thorough testing of these units nationwide. The Kentucky testing was only "surface" exams, meaning the state inspectors did not test to see if the units actually worked. (MORE >>>)
Dugger, IN - The Dugger Town Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the rights of the area’s Peabody Energy coal miners to organize a union free from employer interference. The resolution passed by a vote of 3-0 on July 6.
John Cox, a miner at Peabody’s Farmersburg mine spoke about working conditions at his mine. “We work long hours and most weekends. When we retire we have no pension and no health insurance,” said Cox.
The resolution states that Peabody Energy Corp., the world’s largest private sector coal company, should allow its employees to choose freely whether to unionize. The resolution requests that Peabody remain neutral and not resort to the use of pressure tactics, such as mandatory meetings on unionization, threats to close the mine, or any other form of interference or intimidation. The resolution also requests that Peabody agree to an expedited and fair process by which the employees can make a decision about unionization.
“I think the miners should have the right to decide whether they want to be union,” said Town President Bill Pirtle.
A copy of the passed resolution will be sent to Peabody Energy’s CEO Greg Boyce.Boonville City Council backs Peabody Energy miners' right to form a union