Murray Energy to close a union mine
As usual, it's all Obama's fault
The afternoon Wheeling News-Register is reporting that Murray Energy will close the No. 6 Powhatan mine in November:
Murray Energy Corp. spokesman Gary Broadbent this morning confirmed the Powhatan No. 6 Mine will close in November, likely leaving about 430 coal miners unemployed.
Powhatan No. 6 Mine, represented . . .
News from the war on coal and coal miners
The local "newspapers" and state politicians, with a few exceptions, continue to blame most of coal's decline on President Obama and the EPA. It's the easy thing to do but it compounds the problem of turning the state around because simply voting "for coal" in the next election will do nothing to change the market . . .
Covering/not covering Friday's Waynesburg rally that attracted 5,000 protesters against Alpha Natural Resources
Here is how three area papers covered Friday's scheduled solidarity march against Alpha Natural Resources in Waynesburg, PA. (Please see three posts down for the reason for the march - Alpha wants to break union contract.)
The Washington Observer-Reporter
Placement of story: front page with pictures
. . .
"Fair and balanced" Intelligencer half-covers Alpha Natural Resources story
Edits out union response
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 . . .
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 . . .
Posted in: alpha natural resourcescoalumwa
Back on the front page: "Murray: Bankruptcy Possible if No Tax Cut"
A look at the severance tax cut proposal
Once again Robert Murray is back on the front page. On Thursday, he "demanded" a tax reduction (see three posts down); this time he argues that without a drop in the severance tax his company will face bankruptcy.
Half of the article is devoted to his explanation of the unfairness of WV's severance tax and the . . .
Posted in: coalmurray energyseverance tax
Intelligencer front-page story: "Murray Demands Tax Reduction"
Article, however, does not report whether he also stomped his feet and threatened to hold his breath until the severance tax was reduced
This morning's Intelligencer reports:
. . .Murray Energy CEO Robert E. Murray said paying $7.6 million in West Virginia severance taxes on New Year's Eve forced him to lay off 674 coal miners, so he's urging lawmakers to slash rates by more than half to "save what is left of its coal industry and jobs."
Posted in: coalmurray coalrobert murray
