MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – More than 800 West Virginia miners face unemployment this Memorial Day weekend. Another nearly 600 could receive layoff notices later this summer.
Murray American Energy, Inc. eliminated 829 hourly and salary mining positions at the Marshall County Coal Company, Marion County Coal Company, Ohio Coal Company and Harrison County Coal Company.
A Friday afternoon release from the company said, “We regret that, due to the vastly increased use of natural gas in the Ohio Valley area to generate electricity, the ongoing destruction of the United States coal industry by President Barack Obama, and the excessive coal severance tax in the State of West Virginia, workforce reductions and operational changes have been forced upon the Company.”
The 589 workers at the Monongalia County Coal Company have been told some of them will be laid off indefinitely effective July 21, 2015. Corporate representatives did not indicate how many of those miners could be out of work.
Various reports, including one Friday in the Wall Street Journal, said Murray Energy would be announcing major layoffs sometime Friday afternoon.
According to Cecil Roberts, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President, miners didn’t get the news from Murray American first.
“They have done everything asked of them, and more. The fact that they had to read about these layoffs on the internet before they heard about it from their employer does a disservice to their dedication and commitment to being among the best coal miners in America,” Roberts said.
Murray American had already furloughed several hundred workers earlier this year because of large stockpiles.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin issued a statement following additional reports of layoffs in the coal industry.
“Additional layoffs and mine closures are heartbreaking for our miners, their families and the communities in which they live. These cutbacks affect more than just those directly employed – they affect suppliers, support services and retailers whose businesses depend on these companies and their employees,” said Tomblin.
Murray American said it created 400 jobs when it acquired operations in West Virginia in December 2013. More than 4,000 miners have been employed by the company in the Mountain State.
Murray American also announced the elimination of 249 jobs at facilities in Ohio and 162 in Illinois.