A ruling by a federal bankruptcy Judge Wednesday has permitted Patriot Coal Corp. to significantly reduce its pension and healthcare benefits for current and retired employees. Patriot claims that it will need to reduce its labor costs by $150 million to keep its doors open. The United Mine Workers of America, which represents 57 percent of Patriot?s 2,900 miners, has indicated that it will proceed with negotiations, though it has not dismissed the possibility of a strike in the event that Patriot wipes out the existing contract. The sides have met 15 times since November and exchanged 5 rounds of proposals and counterproposals.
See "Patriot can sever Mine Workers contract, cut retiree benefits, judge rules", Tim Logan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, May 29, 2013