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Miners working for Peabody Energy in Kentucky are pushing hard to organize in the face of an anti-union operation. In December of last year they launched the Justice at Peabody Campaign. They have recently won support from local political and religious leaders, as well as fellow miners as far away as Australia.

Over 500 Peabody Miners have signed petitions demanding the right to organize. In addition to concerns over pensions, health care, and time off, the miners feel that a union would help them fight against forced over time. Workers feel that long workdays with little time off could lead to the kind of fatigue that makes accidents more likely.

Peabody Energy is the largest private coal company in the world; its coal sales represent about 20 percent of the U.S. market. The United Mine Workers represent about 30 percent of Peabody’s hourly workers. Nine of the company’s 28 mines in North America are unionized
The company has a history of closing unionized mines and concentrating operations where miners are unorganized.

You can show your support for the Peabody Miners and follow their campaign at http://www.justiceatpeabody.org/. At the site you can send a message to Peabody CEO Greg Boyce, urging him to respect the rights of workers to organize without interference. You can also write to: Greg Boyce, Peabody Energy, 701 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63101.

Expiration Date:
Wed, 11/08/2006 - 5:00pm