The bankruptcy of Blackjewel coal company put more than 1,000 miners out of work in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Wyoming, and sparked a peaceful protest among miners in Eastern Kentucky whose paychecks bounced. But there was hope of some miners getting their jobs back with an auction scheduled today in federal bankruptcy court.
The Associated Press reported:
“Bristol, Tennessee-basedContura Energylast week offered $20.6 million as the stalking horse bidder for two mines in Wyoming and one in West Virginia owned by Milton-based Blackjewel. The purchase could put hundreds back to work at the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines in Wyoming and Pax Surface Mine in Scarbro, West Virginia. They've been closed since Blackjewel filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection July 1.
“According to the bidding process, other qualifying bids made by Wednesday's deadline triggered the auction. The notice didn't disclose the other bids.
“Blackjewel attorney Stephen Lerner had said any party could bid on any combination of Blackjewel's assets.
“Blackjewel also operates mines in Kentucky and Virginia, and the fate of those depends on the outcome of the bidding process.”
In Kentucky, where miners blocked railroad tracks to prevent Blackjewel from transporting coal, the Lexington Herald-Leader said the coal company failed to comply with state regulations that would have protected miners from losing pay for worked they did.
The paper reported:
"A coal company that wrote cold checks to several hundred Kentucky miners had not posted a bond to cover the cost of paying its workers, as required by state law.
"Blackjewel LLC should have posted the bond, but it didn’t, said Kentucky Labor Cabinet Secretary David A. Dickerson.
"If Blackjewel had complied with state law, there could have been money in place to cover the miners’ last two paychecks, said Sam Petsonk, a West Virginia attorney representing former Blackjewel miners in an effort to get them paid."
Dozens of workers formed a blockade on the CSX track Monday to stop cars carrying coal from Blackjewel’s mine in Harlan County. Wednesday afternoon, they were allowing locomotive engines with no cargo to pass.
The general manager of WYMT, the CBS affiliate in Harlan, Kentucky, weighed in with an editorial.
Neil Middleton, who grew up in the region, called Blackjewel’s actions “shameful.”
He wrote:
“The peaceful protest is gaining support from across the state and country. More than 1,100 miners in Kentucky, Wyoming, West Virginia and Virginia lost their jobs when the bankrupt company shut down. The miners' paychecks bounced, leaving hundreds overdrawn and needing help.
“And in my opinion, a full investigation is warranted. Blackjewel has filed bankruptcy, but the court has not ordered the company to pay the miners back. State Representative Adam Bowling is crafting legislation to compel the company to pay the miners' back wages. Let's hope he is successful.
“The miners did the work. They earned their wages. They should be paid.”
from The Rural Blog https://ift.tt/2MyOs6W Blackjewel bankruptcy halts mine work in 4 states; Kentucky miners halt train cars; auction could reopen some mines - Entrepreneur Generations
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