Protesters rally in front of the Peabody Energy headquarters in downtown St. Louis on April 29, 2013. They gathered to draw attention to a Patriot Coal case regarding the health care benefits of 10,000 retired miners. Peabody spun off Patriot in 2007.
1000 Crosses were planted by protesters on a hill in Kiener Plaza. The crosses signified the deaths of former miners, as well as the potential loss of healthcare for retired miners.
Credit Sean Sandefur/ St. Louis Public Radio
Jimmy Gerald, a member of United Mine Workers of America, hammers down his cross in to Kiener Plaza.
Credit Sean Sandefur/ St. Louis Public Radio
Protesters didn't let the pouring rain get to them. They stood in the cold for close to an hour, listening to various speakers.
Hundreds of retired and current union miners from across the country descended on St. Louis on Tuesday to protest Peabody Energy and the potential loss of their pension plans.
Most of the miners worked for either Peabody Energy or Arch Coal, but their benefits are threatened by the bankruptcy of Patriot Coal last year. Patriot was spun off from Peabody in 2007, along with the healthcare obligations of many Peabody and Arch Coal employees.
Charles Whitlow of New Athens, Ill. holds the three plastic containers that separate his daily pills. Whitlow worked as a coal miner for Peabody Energy for 33 years and fears he will lose his health care as a result of Patriot Coal’s bankruptcy.
Credit (UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
Protesters gather outside Peabody Energy’s headquarters in St. Louis on Feb. 13 in one of several rallies held regarding Patriot Coal’s bankruptcy this year.
Credit (UPI/Bill Greenblatt)
Police walk arrested mine workers to a police van Feb. 26 after they refused an order to get out of the street during a rally outside of the Peabody Energy Company headquarters in St. Louis. Ten people were arrested.
United Mine Workers march from Peabody Energy to the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse on Feb. 26.
Our Maria Altman had a story on NPR's Morning Edition this morning about the many effects of Patriot Coal's bankruptcy. In fact, the story continues, with another rally in St. Louis today.
To give you even more on this story, we present these photos - glimpses of the people affected by the actions of this large, St. Louis-based company.