Local S8 and Peabody Energies make community donation

Members of Local S8, Equality, Ill., donate Thanksgiving Baskets to WADI, a Head Start program in Saline County. L. to r., Natalie Fox, Greg Fort, (in front) DeAnna Day, Lena Hankins, Tony Young, Ella Young, Rachel Hunt, and (in front) Brandy Rector.

Union and company put contract differences aside to help those in need

WORKING A MONTH without a contract can cause tension to build between workers and employers. But Boilermakers and company reps at the Willow Lake Mine were able to set their contract differences aside long enough to make a joint contribution to their community.

Members of Local S8, Equality, Ill., and representatives of the Peabody Energies-owned mine in Harrisburg, Ill., donated food and Thanksgiving baskets to Wabash Area Development Inc. (WADI), a member of the Illinois Head Start Association.

Together with donations from other community donors, WADI provided 16 families with food baskets. Each basket included all the essential holiday items, including a 20-pound turkey. In addition, many more Saline County families benefited from the remaining food donations.