PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Members of the United Mine Workers of America are picketing outside U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Pittsburgh where Massey Energy is bidding for the rights to buy a southwestern Pennsylvania mine.
Massey owns the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, W.Va. where 29 miners were killed in an explosion April 5.
The UMWA and other unions are picketing to raise awareness that Massey wants to buy the nearly 1,300-acre Mathies Mine in Union Township, Washington County, from bankrupt Mon View Mining Co. Mon View is headquartered in the Pittsburgh suburb of Bethel Park.
Massey has paid a $1 million deposit to bid on the mine. Mon View wants to sell the mine for at least $25 million at a bankruptcy auction scheduled for Monday, although some creditors have filed motions to delay the sale.
