Murray Energy cuts benefits for retired salary workers
By Jared Hunt, Charleston Daily Mail, W.Va. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
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Murray Energy and CONSOL reached an agreement last October for Murray to purchase the five mines from its Consolidation Coal subsidiary -- the
Murray, a privately-held company, agreed to pay
Only retired salary workers are affected by the company's decision. Union workers' benefits are protected under collective bargaining agreements that were negotiated between the
Murray Energy CEO
"I don't think there is any question we will continue to see decreases in employment in the coal industry in
The company blamed administration policies for leading to its decision to cut benefits.
"Murray Energy's inability to provide these benefits is, in part, due to the destruction of the coal industry, including our markets, by the Obama administration and its appointees and supporters, who have eliminated the livelihoods of thousands of coal miners, and their families, by the forced closing of 392 coal-fired electric power plants in America, now and in the immediate future," the statement said.
"Due to these action (sic) and devastated coal markets, Murray Energy is unable to support these benefits," the company said.
In his January interview, which took place after he spoke at the
"It's a human issue to me because I know the names of these miners whose jobs and family livelihoods are being destroyed," Murray said. "If they own anything, it's their homes, and when the jobs are eliminated in their communities, there is no one to sell their homes to. These are people who want to work in honor and dignity and they're being denied that. These are my employees.
"This is not the America that I cherish," he said.
Published reports indicate about 1,200 Consolidation Coal retirees will be affected by the cuts, including about 1,030 in
The company statement indicated Murray planned to assist retirees in finding other health insurance options once their current coverage expires on
"Murray Energy is making this announcement at this time to allow affected salaried retirees of Consolidation Coal the opportunity to make other arrangements," the company statement said.
The company also pointed out that more than 80 percent of the lost benefits can be made up through
"Also, these former Consolidation Coal retirees have good pension benefits," the company said. "The company has provided these salaried retirees with information on and access to alternate coverage."
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