Yesterday, I noted (see one post down) how Alpha Natural Resources was attempting to break its contract with the United Mine Workers after it gave significant bonuses to management. Today, the Intelligencer got around to publishing half of an AP story on Alpha on page 3 - buried right below the obituaries. However, the Intelligencer removed the UMW's response to Alpha's actions out of the Associated Press story. (They also dropped the source of the AP report, the Charleston Gazette-Mail, from their coverage -- no sense in giving credit to a competitor who actually reports the news. )

Here's the AP report with what the Intelligencer edited out of the story in bold:

RICHMOND, Va. — A coal production company is asking a judge to allow the business to break its contract with a union in order to reorganize its finances.

Alpha Natural Resources filed a petition on Monday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond, asking to be able to modify the company’s obligations for retiree health care benefits, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

The company argues that it needs to cut costs in order to survive an ongoing decline in the coal industry. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, citing increased competition from low-priced natural gas, an oversupply in the global coal market and increasing government regulations.

Company lawyers say that the company spent about $53 million on health care benefits for union employees last year. Attorneys also argue that the company spent about 34 percent more on each union employee than on each non-union employee. According to the company’s bankruptcy filing, the union represents 11 percent of its workforce. It also represents 2,600 of its retirees.

The union, United Mine Workers, has said it would fight the company’s efforts to break its contract.

“Alpha can file whatever they want and the judge can order whatever he wants, but it’s up to us if we work under those conditions,” UMW spokesman Phil Smith said Tuesday.

UMW said in a news release Tuesday that it plans to hold a rally Friday in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, to show solidarity with union members.

“We are confronting the ongoing bankruptcy of Alpha Natural Resources and its demand to slash wages, benefits, working conditions and more for our members,” UMW President Cecil Roberts said.

The company has asked for a hearing to be held on April 12 to address the issue.

Yes, just another "fair and balanced" report from the Wheeling Intelligencer.