Judge rules coal company can eliminate Kemmerer retirees' health care, union contract

[TexasTowelie]

Retired coal miners from Kemmerer likely lost their company health benefits Friday when a judge decided that Westmoreland Coal Co. could eliminate retirement health care and a union contract in order to sell the Kemmerer coal mine to a Virginia businessman.

Judge David R. Jones of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston said he would not enter a final order on the matter until Tuesday, giving the United Mine Workers of America and the coal company time to negotiate a deal.

Miners who had gone down to Texas to plead their case were disheartened by the ruling but said they would continue fighting even if it led to a strike.

“I have very mixed emotions about it,” Cullen Pace, a coal miner at Kemmerer, said of the judge’s decision. “We really got our a—— handed to us, but I’m hopeful in the fact that we can get a new contract.”

Read more: https://trib.com/business/energy/judge-rules-coal-company-can-eliminate-kemmerer-retirees-health-care/article_8ff06bf6-ac06-556c-b7eb-17c87d6fce20.html

[kimbutgar]

1. These rulings seem to always favor the companies

The judge was probably appointed by repukes.

[keith sw]

2. Unions are dead in America

I have been a Union man for over 40 years, and will be the first to tell you they are dead. My wife is also in a Union that is totally useless. They never used to be that way

[Wellstone ruled]

3. So far the Teamsters

are still kicking some serious ass. And that will only last as long as our Contract with UPS holds up.

[keithbvadu2]

4. Legal obligations - aren't.

"could eliminate retirement health care and a union contract"

Legal obligations - aren't.