CECIL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — The United Mine Workers president was arrested for trespassing during a protest Wednesday outside of Consol Energy headquarters.
Hundreds of union members took part in the rally, protesting recent attempts by Consol to reduce health care benefits for union retirees and threats to funding for pensions of retired coal miners and widows.
[ PHOTOS: Mine workers rally outside Consol headquarters ]
"We're here today because of Consol's decision back in January to take away a promise of health care they made since 1946," said Ed Yankovich, of the United Mine Workers of America.
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Retiree Bruce Black, of Carmichaels, Greene County, said he depends on the benefits.
"It's wrong. It's wrong. I'm a retired coal miner. I've got a family. I've got my granddaughter going to college and stuff, and it's not right," Black said.
Other retirees worry that changes will ultimately affect everyone.
"We're here to support them because if they do it to one, they're going to do it to everybody. We've been through a big battle and here we go again," said a man who retired five years ago.
“It's no secret that Consol is getting out of the coal business,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said in a news release earlier in the day. “On its way out the door, Consol is trying to leave behind all its obligations to those UMWA members who made it a successful company for decades. But Consol made those promises to its workers and we intend to see that it keeps them.”
Consol issued the following response to the demonstration:
"It's puzzling that the UMWA chose to rally at CONSOL Energy headquarters as we are one of only a few companies in the industry that has and continues to meet its obligations without resorting to the bankruptcy courts. While CONSOL Energy made the necessary decisions to effectively weather the industry downturn, which was caused in large part by the policies of the UMWA-supported Obama Administration, the union stood idly by as company after company whose employees they represented filed for bankruptcy, shedding their liabilities and deepening the financial crisis their active members and retirees now face. While the UMWA grandstands and looks to distract from their own poor decisions, CONSOL Energy will continue to work to always do the right things for its employees and to keep the company strong."