Alpha wants to break union contract
From yesterday's Wall Street Journal:
Alpha Natural Resources Inc. is asking a bankruptcy judge to let it slash retiree benefits and tear up existing labor agreements with its mine workers union, warning that its survival is at stake.
Two months ago, this same company gave $12 million in bonuses to company executives.
A spokesperson from the UMWA suggested yesterday that the union might not honor changes in the contract:
“Alpha can file whatever they want and the judge can order whatever he wants but it will be up to us whether or not we work under those conditions.” UMWA spokesman Phil Smith said Tuesday in an emailed statement.
There was nothing about this in the morning paper -- apparently Murray Energy hasn't decided how this story should be covered.
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