Mar 29, 2016 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – The United Mine Workers will hold a “solidarity” rally Friday at the Greene County Fairgrounds to address a variety of issues, including action taken in bankruptcy court this week by Alpha Natural Resources to reject the union contract for miners at the company’s Cumberland Mine.

Alpha, which has been negotiating with the union for the last three months during bankruptcy, filed a motion in bankruptcy court Monday seeking to reject the current union contract and to modify its obligations to retirees’ health care benefits.

A hearing on the motion has been scheduled for April 12 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, Va.

More than 5,000 active and retired miners and supporters are expected to participate in the march that will begin at 10 a.m. Friday at the Greene County Airport and proceed nearly two miles along Route 21 to the fairgrounds. The rally will begin after all marchers reach the fairgrounds and feature several speakers including UMW International President Cecil E. Roberts.

A release on the rally said the union is facing several challenges including the fight for passage of the Miners Protection Act, which will provides funds to support union pensions and health care benefits, and upcoming negotiations for a national collective bargaining agreement.

“Our members want to let everyone know that we are fired up, we are united and we are ready to do what it takes meet all these challenges and prevail,” Roberts said in the release.

Roberts also spoke about the ongoing bankruptcy of Alpha Natural Resources, which he said, is seeking to cut wages, benefits and working conditions for its UMW members.

In a motion filed Monday seeking to reject the union contract, the company said it began meeting with the union in December to negotiate modifications to the union contract to achieve at least $60 million in labor savings.

The company said the contract covers about 610 active employees, most of whom are employed at the company’s Cumberland Mine. It also seeks to re-negotiate its obligation to 2,600 retired union employees. This would include terminating retiree medical programs and replacing them with a subsidy consistent with benefits offered to non-union retirees.

The company claims it is seeking this relief for its successful restructuring and for the sale of its core assets as an ongoing concern. Alpha noted the union’s last counter proposal would only achieve about $2 million in savings.

“Alpha can file whatever they want and the judge can order whatever he wants, but we are the ones who will decide whether or not to work under those conditions,” UMW spokesman Phil Smith said.

A statement issued by Alpha said that in light of the challenging coal market and under terms of the sale of its core assets and agreements with secured lenders, the company had to either obtain labor concessions by Monday or seek court approval to reject current collective bargaining agreements and modify retiree benefits.

“Alpha has, for months, made good faith effort to negotiate a revised agreement with the UMW that acknowledges the current economic climate. However we have been unable to reach a settlement that can be endorsed by both parties,” the statement said.

“Therefore, to continue to implement our restructuring and remain in compliance with our lending agreement, Alpha requested court approval for the authority to reject current union contracts and significantly modify union retiree benefits.

“These are all difficult decisions because they impact our people and their families, but they are also necessary actions if Alpha is going to successfully emerge from bankruptcy in the coming months.”

At least 25 buses are expected to bring UMW members and their families to the rally from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. The union held a similar march and rally at the fairgrounds in April 2011.

The westbound lane will be restricted to a single lane between the airport and fairgrounds to accommodate the walkers, said Valerie Petersen, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

Other union officials expected to attend the rally include UMW International Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Kane, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President Terrence Melvin, International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Vice President Warren Fairley and BCTGM Nabisco Boycott Coordinator Ron Baker

The event is being held on Mitchell Day, which the UMW celebrates each year on April 1 to honor John Mitchell, the union’s fifth president and father of the eight-hour workday.