Carnahan supports Peabody miners right to organize

U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan supports Peabody Energy coal miners’ right to organize

ST. LOUIS-- U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) today pledged his support for coal miners employed at Peabody Energy Corp.
who are trying to form a union, and urged the company to remain neutral in the miners’ struggle for unionization. Peabody is
headquartered in St. Louis near Carnahan’s congressional district.

"I support the rights of all Americans to organize in their workplaces,” said Carnahan. “Today I stand with coal miners from
Peabody Energy and encourage them in their efforts to organize with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), and I urge
Peabody Energy to remain neutral when it comes to its employees' choice to form a union.”

Hundreds of non-union miners at Peabody Energy’s facilities across the country have requested assistance from the UMWA to
organize a union. In December, the UMWA responded by launching the Justice at Peabody campaign.

Rep. Carnahan’s statement echoed his speech to a crowd of well over 1,200 Peabody Energy workers and community
leaders at the UMWA’s December organizing campaign kick-off in front of the company’s headquarters in St. Louis.

“Provisions in the U.S. labor laws to prevent employer pressure on employees who seek to organize unions are either too
weak or non-existent,” Carnahan said. “I have consistently advocated in Congress for legislation, like the Employee Free
Choice Act, that ensures that American workers receive the rights and protections that they deserve.”

Carnahan is a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act and is a strong advocate of a workers’ right to form a union free
from employer threats, harassment and intimidation. The Employee Free Choice Act requires employer neutrality during
organizing campaigns and union recognition upon a majority of employees signing cards stating their desire to be part of a
union. The pending legislation, which also establishes stronger penalties for violation of employee rights, has gained
bipartisan support with 208 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives and the 42 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate.

“We warmly welcome Congressman Carnahan’s support for these miners’ right to join a union of their choice,” said UMWA
International President Cecil E. Roberts. “In such a dangerous industry, miners need to be empowered to have a voice in their
workplace.”

Statement from Congressman Russ Carnahan:

"I support the rights of all Americans to organize in their work places. Today I stand with coal miners from Peabody Energy
and encourage them in their efforts to organize with the United Mine Workers of America. I urge Peabody Energy to remain
neutral when it comes to its employees' choice to form a union.

Many of America's most successful companies have concluded that a non-adversarial relationship with unions is mutually
beneficial.

Provisions in the U.S. labor laws to prevent employer pressure on employees who seek to organize unions are either too
weak or non-existent. I have consistently advocated in Congress for legislation, like the Employee Free Choice Act, that
ensures that American workers receive the rights and protections that they deserve. The Employee Free Choice Act requires
employer neutrality during organizing campaigns and union recognition upon a majority of employees signing cards stating
their desire to be part of a union.

It is just good business when companies protect the basic human and labor rights of their workers and respect their right to
organize a union."