A group of coal miners and their union, United Mine Workers, have sued Peabody Energy Corp. and Arch Coal, Inc. claiming that the companies have an obligation to pay retiree pension and health care benefits, notwithstanding a 2007 spinoff to Patriot Coal. Patriot Coal is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may be able to cancel its obligations for retiree pension and/or health care benefits. Some of the retired miners never worked for Patriot. The suit seeks class action status for about 10,000 miners and was filed in federal court in West Virginia.
Source: Reuters
