Community Corner
Ten Arrested In Creve Coeur Coal Miner Protests
Arch Coal and Patriot Coal were the targets of a large protest Tuesday in Creve Coeur.
A boisterous but peaceful labor demonstration in Creve Coeur resulted in the arrest of 10 activists outside the corporate headquarters of Arch Coal Tuesday.
Up to 1,500 were expected to gather as the United Mine Workers of America press on in the union's attempts to pressure coal companies like Patriot Coal and Arch Coal over the payment of retirement benefits.
The UMWA has so far unsuccessfully argued in court that Patriot was set up by Peabody Coal as a way to unload retirement obligations. Patriot is currently in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings.
THe UMWA accuses Arch Coal of spinning off the obligations to more than 2,000 retirees in a similar fashion.
An Arch Coal spokeswoman called Tuesday's protests "misdirected"
"Arch Coal sold the former subsidiary companies in question more than seven years ago to an exceptionally strong and well-financed, Boston-based company called ArcLight Capital Partners. ArcLight has grown significantly since that time and continues to prosper today. Arch Coal had no involvement whatsoever with ArcLight’s sale of those and other assets to Patriot Coal Corporation two and a half years later.
Today’s rally is an attempt to misinform the public about the history of those transactions and to influence negotiations that have nothing to do with Arch. We believe the right place for the union to express concerns is in the bankruptcy court, not on the streets of Creve Coeur."
The UMWA representatives were joined by organizers who spent Monday and Tuesday protesting low wages at fast food restaurants around the St. Louis region, including Tuesday at the Wendy's restaurant in Ballwin.Ten activists were arrested for sitting in the intersection of North New Ballas Road during a peaceful demonstration.
Several tactical vehicle units from the St. Louis County Police were on hand, along with officers from Creve Coeur Police and authorities in Bridgeton, Olivette among others.
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