CC33

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

CC33


+2
Suzi
Alan Smithee
6 posters

    Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Alan Smithee
    Alan Smithee
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.


    Male
    Join date : 2010-09-03
    Location : 40º44’18.33”N 73º58’31.82”W
    Posts : 25792
    Rep : 381

    News Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Alan Smithee Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:02 pm

    I truly am sorry people may lose their jobs but I'll take clean air and water. eye roll .

    ST. LOUIS (AP) - A coal producer owned by a longtime critic of President Barack Obama's energy policies will lay off nearly 160 workers at Illinois and Utah mines, blaming the freshly re-elected president for a "war on coal."

    Ohio-based Murray Energy Corp. said in a statement supplied Friday to The Associated Press that it would give pink slips to 102 workers at its West Ridge Mine in Utah and 54 at its underground mine in the southern Illinois town of Galatia. Both mines are run by Murray Energy subsidiaries.

    Murray did not specify when layoffs will take place or the total number of workers at each affected site. The company refused an email interview request, saying only that "unfortunately, we will be forced to make even more layoffs, none of which we want."

    The announcement's timing — just days after Obama's victory over Republican Mitt Romney — was anything but coincidental. Robert Murray, the company's chairman, CEO and founder, had backed Romney, who proposed rolling back some restrictions on power-plant emissions and positioned himself as a supporter of the coal industry.

    "The American people have made their choice," Murray, a day after the election, told about 50 employees during a prayer, a text of which was provided to the AP by the company. Lamenting the country's direction and insisting "the takers outvoted the producers," Murray asked for God's forgiveness "for the decisions that we are now forced to make to preserve the very existence of any of the enterprises that you have helped us build."

    Murray's statement Friday, which insisted that the coal industry "is being destroyed," said U.S. coal production this year could plunge by hundreds of millions of tons, and that the Obama administration's energy policies will lead to the closure of scores of U.S. coal-fired power plants by 2014.

    The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed tighter limits on mercury, sulfur dioxide and other pollutants that would make it more expensive for utilities to burn coal, a major source of those emissions. The EPA has also proposed limiting the amount of carbon dioxide that new power plants can emit.

    Neither would specifically bar coal-fired power plants, but experts say it would be nearly impossible to build an affordable new coal plant that could meet the limits. The proposals, some which had begun under George W. Bush's administration, wouldn't affect coal plants now in use or being built.

    Obama, who during his 2008 campaign said builders of new coal-powered plants will go bankrupt from emissions standards he would enact, now espouses an "all of the above" energy strategy that includes coal.

    "The president has made clear that coal has an important role to play in our energy economy today and it will in the future, which is why this administration has worked to make sure that moving forward we can continue to rely on a broad range of domestic energy sources from oil and gas, to wind and solar, to nuclear, as well as clean coal," Clark Stevens, a White House spokesman, said recently.

    What's happening in the coal industry is more than a seasonal slump or a response to new regulations; even coal executives admit it's a fundamental shift. Many utilities have switched from coal to cheaper natural gas for electricity generation, pushing up coal stockpiles at power plants and forcing mining companies to sharply cut production.

    When St. Louis-based Patriot Coal filed for bankruptcy in July, it didn't mention a war on coal but cited "a major correction" in the industry and "new realities in the market," including fierce, sustainable competition of natural gas. But St. Louis-based Arch Coal Inc. blamed market pressures and a challenging regulatory backdrop in its June announcement it would lay off about 750 Appalachian coal workers.

    A recent rebound in natural gas prices has buoyed hopes among coal producers that power plants increasingly will shift back to coal, though they say pressure on the industry could persist well into next year.

    Murray Energy was the parent company of a Utah coal mine that collapsed in 2007, killing six miners and three members of a rescue team. Earlier this year, Murray Energy affiliates paid nearly $1 million in safety fines for the disaster and settled a criminal case for $500,000.

    http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20121109&id=15779130

    If you believe there is such a thing as "clean coal", you probably don't believe in the proven fact of climate change, aka global warming.
    Suzi
    Suzi
    …is a Power Member.
    …is a Power Member.


    Female
    Join date : 2011-03-01
    Location : BC, Canada
    Posts : 1529
    Rep : 85

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Suzi Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:24 pm

    Well those are 160 jobs that can't be outsourced. Several companies appear to be spite firing of workers most I suspect are simply outsourcing the jobs. Perhaps like our moron Prime Minister he will bring in the Chinese workers to mine the coal. Really in-sourcing will become the rage. I agree there is no such thing as "clean coal", but if people hear the words often enough they will probably believe it.
    Alan Smithee
    Alan Smithee
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.


    Male
    Join date : 2010-09-03
    Location : 40º44’18.33”N 73º58’31.82”W
    Posts : 25792
    Rep : 381

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Alan Smithee Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:37 pm

    What's happening in the coal industry is more than a seasonal slump or a response to new regulations; even coal executives admit it's a fundamental shift. Many utilities have switched from coal to cheaper natural gas for electricity generation, pushing up coal stockpiles at power plants and forcing mining companies to sharply cut production.

    We may still be jumping from the frying pan into the fire. F-R-A-C-K-I-N-G
    wants2laugh
    wants2laugh
    …is a Power Member.
    …is a Power Member.


    Female
    Join date : 2011-07-10
    Location : South Jersey---yes we are a different state
    Posts : 3913
    Rep : 87

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by wants2laugh Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:52 pm

    my thing is, fine u changed the policy. Now WHAT are you doing to encourage Clean power? Did u offer the coal companies a chance to build wind mills are low interest rate loans? Or give them some sort of incentive to switch to something else? NO? then u did nothing but limit business in our country, and make us more dependent on foreign countries for oil.

    In PA, they upped the emissions standards for car inspections. It cost my family's auto body shop $50,000 for the new emissions machine in order to do state inspections. Three years later, and still owing $20,000 on the machine... the laws were made stricter. The NEW NEW machine would cost $100,000... and the one that we still owed the money on was now worthless. We couldnt afford it, and were no longer able to do the inspection, which resulted in job loss. The same happened to a friend in NJ. Had someone said, "We'll give u a tax break to offset the balance of the old machine, plus give u a low interest loan for the new one" Three jobs might have been saved.

    Now someone might say "Three jobs is nothing"... but add up three jobs in unemployment, welfare, medicaid, food stamps etc... and three jobs is an asset not a deficit.

    Politicians have no vision.
    Alan Smithee
    Alan Smithee
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.


    Male
    Join date : 2010-09-03
    Location : 40º44’18.33”N 73º58’31.82”W
    Posts : 25792
    Rep : 381

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Alan Smithee Sat Nov 10, 2012 3:26 pm

    wants2laugh wrote:my thing is, fine u changed the policy. Now WHAT are you doing to encourage Clean power? Did u offer the coal companies a chance to build wind mills are low interest rate loans? Or give them some sort of incentive to switch to something else? NO? then u did nothing but limit business in our country, and make us more dependent on foreign countries for oil.

    In PA, they upped the emissions standards for car inspections. It cost my family's auto body shop $50,000 for the new emissions machine in order to do state inspections. Three years later, and still owing $20,000 on the machine... the laws were made stricter. The NEW NEW machine would cost $100,000... and the one that we still owed the money on was now worthless. We couldnt afford it, and were no longer able to do the inspection, which resulted in job loss. The same happened to a friend in NJ. Had someone said, "We'll give u a tax break to offset the balance of the old machine, plus give u a low interest loan for the new one" Three jobs might have been saved.

    Now someone might say "Three jobs is nothing"... but add up three jobs in unemployment, welfare, medicaid, food stamps etc... and three jobs is an asset not a deficit.

    Politicians have no vision.

    I've been put out of work numerous times because of a shitty economy and I expect it to happen again at some point but I'll change careers before I put the health of the planet ahead of a job. I hope one day sooner rather than later coal mining doesn't exist as an occupation. Not too many blacksmiths and icemen around today either. .

    The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

    Tax incentives

    Total: $288 billion
    Tax incentives for individuals

    Total: $237 billion

    $116 billion: New payroll tax credit of $400 per worker and $800 per couple in 2009 and 2010. Phaseout begins at $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for joint filers.
    $70 billion: Alternative minimum tax: a one-year increase in AMT floor to $70,950 for joint filers for 2009.
    $15 billion: Expansion of child tax credit: A $1,000 credit to more families (even those that do not make enough money to pay income taxes).
    $14 billion: Expanded college credit to provide a $2,500 expanded tax credit for college tuition and related expenses for 2009 and 2010. The credit is phased out for couples making more than $160,000.
    $6.6 billion: Homebuyer credit: $8,000 refundable credit for all homes bought between 1/1/2009 and 12/1/2009 and repayment provision repealed for homes purchased in 2009 and held more than three years. This only applies to first-time homebuyers.
    $4.7 billion: Excluding from taxation the first $2,400 a person receives in unemployment compensation benefits in 2009.
    $4.7 billion: Expanded earned income tax credit to increase the earned income tax credit — which provides money to low income workers – for families with at least three children.
    $4.3 billion: Home energy credit to provide an expanded credit to homeowners who make their homes more energy-efficient in 2009 and 2010. Homeowners could recoup 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500 of numerous projects, such as installing energy-efficient windows, doors, furnaces and air conditioners.
    $1.7 billion: for deduction of sales tax from car purchases, not interest payments phased out for incomes above $250,000.

    Tax incentives for companies

    Total: $51 billion

    $15 billion: Allowing companies to use current losses to offset profits made in the previous five years, instead of two, making them eligible for tax refunds.
    $13 billion: to extend tax credits for renewable energy production (until 2014).
    $11 billion: Government contractors: Repeal a law that takes effect in 2012, requiring government agencies to withhold three percent of payments to contractors to help ensure they pay their tax bills. Repealing the law would cost $11 billion over 10 years, in part because the government could not earn interest by holding the money throughout the year.
    $7 billion: Repeal bank credit: Repeal a Treasury provision that allowed firms that buy money-losing banks to use more of the losses as tax credits to offset the profits of the merged banks for tax purposes. The change would increase taxes on the merged banks by $7 billion over 10 years.
    $5 billion: Bonus depreciation which extends a provision allowing businesses buying equipment such as computers to speed up its depreciation through 2009.

    Healthcare
    More than 11% of the total bill is allocated to help states with Medicaid

    ARRA included the enactment of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, also known as the HITECH Act.

    Total health care spending: $155.1 billion

    $86.8 billion for Medicaid
    $25.8 billion for health information technology investments and incentive payments
    $25.1 billion to provide a 65 percent subsidy of health care insurance premiums for the unemployed under the COBRA program
    $10 billion for health research and construction of National Institutes of Health facilities
    $2 billion for Community Health Centers
    $1.3 billion for construction of military hospitals (military)
    $1.1 billion to study the comparative effectiveness of healthcare treatments
    $1 billion for prevention and wellness
    $1 billion for the Veterans Health Administration
    $500 million for healthcare services on Indian reservations
    $300 million to train healthcare workers in the National Health Service Corps
    $202 million for a temporary moratorium for certain medicare regulations

    Education

    Total: $100 billion

    $53.6 billion in aid to local school districts to prevent layoffs and cutbacks, with flexibility to use the funds for school modernization and repair (State Fiscal Stabilization Fund)
    $15.6 billion to increase Pell Grants from $4,731 to $5,350
    $13 billion for low-income public schoolchildren
    $12.2 billion for IDEA special education
    $2.1 billion for Head Start
    $2 billion for childcare services
    $650 million for educational technology
    $300 million for increased teacher salaries
    $250 million for states to analyze student performance
    $200 million to support working college students
    $70 million for the education of homeless children

    Aid to low income workers, unemployed and retirees (including job training)
    Payments to Social Security recipients and people on Supplemental Security Income were parts of the ARRA.

    Total: $82.2 billion

    $40 billion to provide extended unemployment benefits through Dec 31, and increase them by $25 a week
    $19.9 billion for the Food Stamp Program
    $14.2 billion to give one-time $250 payments to Social Security recipients, people on Supplemental Security Income, and veterans receiving disability and pensions.
    $3.45 billion for job training
    $3.2 billion in temporary welfare payments (TANF and WIC)
    $500 million for vocational training for the disabled
    $400 million for employment services
    $120 million for subsidized community service jobs for older Americans
    $150 million to help refill food banks
    $100 million for meals programs for seniors, such as Meals on Wheels
    $100 million for free school lunch programs

    Infrastructure Investment

    Total: $105.3 billion

    Transportation


    Total: $48.1 billion, some in the form of Transportation Income Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grants

    $27.5 billion for highway and bridge construction projects
    $8 billion for intercity passenger rail projects and rail congestion grants, with priority for high-speed rail
    $6.9 billion for new equipment for public transportation projects (Federal Transit Administration)
    $1.5 billion for national surface transportation discretionary grants
    $1.3 billion for Amtrak
    $1.1 billion in grants for airport improvements
    $750 million for the construction of new public rail transportation systems and other fixed guideway systems.
    $750 million for the maintenance of existing public transportation systems
    $200 million for FAA upgrades to air traffic control centers and towers, facilities, and equipment
    $100 million in grants for improvements to domestic shipyards

    Water, sewage, environment, and public lands

    Total: $18 billion

    $4.6 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for environmental restoration, flood protection, hydropower, and navigation infrastructure projects
    $4 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund wastewater treatment infrastructure improvements (EPA)
    $2 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund drinking water infrastructure improvements (EPA)
    $1.38 billion for rural drinking water and waste disposal projects
    $1 billion to the Bureau of Reclamation for drinking water projects for rural or drought-likely areas
    $750 million to the National Park Service
    $650 million to the Forest Service
    $600 million for hazardous waste cleanup at Superfund sites (EPA)
    $515 million for wildfire prevention projects
    $500 million for Bureau of Indian Affairs infrastructure projects
    $340 million to the Natural Resources Conservation Service for watershed infrastructure projects
    $320 million to the Bureau of Land Management
    $300 million for reductions in emissions from diesel engines (EPA)
    $300 million to improve Land Ports of Entry (GSA)
    $280 million for National Wildlife Refuges and the National Fish Hatchery System
    $220 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission to repair flood control systems along the Rio Grande
    $200 million for cleanup of leaking Underground Storage Tanks (EPA)
    $100 million for cleaning former industrial and commercial sites (Brownfields) (EPA)

    Total: $7.2 billion

    $4.2 billion to repair and modernize Defense Department facilities.
    $890 million to improve housing for service members
    $750 million for federal buildings and U.S. Courthouses (GSA)
    $250 million to improve Job Corps training facilities
    $240 million for new child development centers
    $240 million for the maintenance of United States Coast Guard facilities
    $200 million for Department of Homeland Security headquarters
    $176 million for Agriculture Research Service repairs and improvements
    $150 million for the construction of state extended-care facilities
    $100 million to improve facilities of the National Guard

    Total: $10.5 billion

    $7.2 billion for complete broadband and wireless Internet access
    $1 billion for explosive detection systems for airports
    $500 million to update the computer center at the Social Security Administration
    $420 million for construction and repairs at ports of entry
    $290 million to upgrade IT platforms at the State Department
    $280 million to upgrade border security technologies
    $210 million to build and upgrade fire stations
    $200 million for IT and claims processing improvements for Veterans Benefits Administration
    $150 million to upgrade port security
    $150 million for the security of transit systems
    $50 million for IT improvements at the Farm Service Agency
    $26 million to improve security systems at the Department of Agriculture headquarters

    Energy Infrastructure

    Total: $21.5 billion

    $6 billion for the cleanup of radioactive waste (mostly nuclear weapons production sites)
    $4.5 billion for the Office of Electricity and Energy Reliability to modernize the nation's electrical grid and smart grid.
    $4.5 billion to increase energy efficiency in federal buildings (GSA)
    $3.25 billion for the Western Area Power Administration for power transmission system upgrades.
    $3.25 billion for the Bonneville Power Administration for power transmission system upgrades.

    Total: $27.2 billion

    $6 billion for renewable energy and electric transmission technologies loan guarantees
    $5 billion for weatherizing modest-income homes
    $3.4 billion for carbon capture and low emission coal research
    $3.2 billion toward Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants.
    $3.1 billion for the State Energy Program to help states invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy
    $2 billion for manufacturing of advanced car battery (traction) systems and components.
    $800 million for biofuel research, development, and demonstration projects
    $602 million to support the use of energy efficient technologies in building and in industry
    $500 million for training of green-collar workers (by the Department of Labor)
    $400 million for the Geothermal Technologies Program
    $400 million for electric vehicle technologies
    $300 million for energy efficient appliance rebates
    $300 million for state and local governments to purchase energy efficient vehicles
    $300 million to acquire electric vehicles for the federal vehicle fleet (GSA)
    $250 million to increase energy efficiency in low-income housing
    $204 million in funding for research and testing facilities at national laboratories
    $190 million in funding for wind, hydro, and other renewable energy projects
    $115 million to develop and deploy solar power technologies
    $110 million for the development of high efficiency vehicles
    $42 million in support of new deployments of fuel cell technologies

    Housing

    Total: $14.7 billion

    $4 billion to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for repairing and modernizing public housing, including increasing the energy efficiency of units.
    $2.25 billion in tax credits for financing low-income housing construction
    $2 billion for Section 8 housing rental assistance
    $2 billion for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to purchase and repair foreclosed vacant housing
    $1.5 billion for rental assistance to prevent homelessness
    $1 billion in community development block grants for state and local governments
    $555 million in mortgage assistance for wounded service members (Army Corps of Engineers)
    $510 million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing
    $250 million for energy efficient modernization of low-income housing
    $200 million for helping rural Americans buy homes (Department of Agriculture)
    $140 million in grants for independent living centers for elderly blind persons (Dept. of Education)
    $130 million for rural community facilities (Department of Agriculture)
    $100 million to help remove lead paint from public housing
    $100 million emergency food and shelter for homeless (Department of Homeland Security)

    Scientific research


    Total: $7.6 billion[citation needed]

    $3 billion to the National Science Foundation
    $2 billion to the United States Department of Energy
    $1 billion to NASA, including "$400 million for space exploration related activities. Of this amount, $50 million [was] to be used for the development of commercial crew space transportation concepts and enabling capabilities."
    $600 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
    $580 million to the National Institute of Standards and Technology
    $230 million for NOAA operations, research and facilities
    $140 million to the United States Geological Survey

    Other

    Total: $10.6 billion

    $4 billion for state and local law enforcement agencies
    $1.1 billion in waivers on interest payments for state unemployment trust funds
    $1 billion in preparation for the 2010 census
    $1 billion in added funding for child support enforcement
    $750 million for DTV conversion coupons and DTV transition education
    $749 million in crop insurance reinstatement, and emergency loans for farmers
    $730 million in SBA loans for small businesses
    $500 million for the Social Security Administration to process disability and retirement backlogs
    $201 million in additional funding for AmeriCorps and other community service organizations
    $150 million for Urban and Rural economic recovery programs
    $150 million for an increase of claims processing military staff
    $150 million in loans for rural businesses
    $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts to support artists
    $50 million for the National Cemetery Administration

    Buy American provision

    ARRA included a protectionist 'Buy American' provision which imposed a general requirement that any public building or public works project funded by the new stimulus package must use only iron, steel and other manufactured goods produced in the United States.

    A May 15, 2009 Washington Post article reported that the 'Buy American' provision of the stimulus package caused outrage in the Canadian business community, and that the government in Canada "retaliated" by enacting its own restrictions on trade with the U.S. On June 6, 2009, delegates at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference passed a resolution that would potentially shut out U.S. bidders from Canadian city contracts, in order to help show support for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's opposition to the "Buy American" provision. Sherbrooke Mayor Jean Perrault, president of the federation, stated, "This U.S. protectionist policy is hurting Canadian firms, costing Canadian jobs and damaging Canadian efforts to grow in the world-wide recession." There will be a 120-day delay before the resolution takes effect.[54] On February 16, 2010, the United States and Canada agreed on exempting Canadian companies from Buy American provisions which would have hurt the Canadian economy.[/quote]
    Minerva
    Minerva
    …is Significant.
    …is Significant.


    Female
    Join date : 2011-10-26
    Posts : 398
    Rep : 18

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Minerva Sat Nov 10, 2012 7:56 pm

    I was around when computers first took over peoples' jobs and they still continue to do so in a lot of low level office work.

    Night watchmen? We have surveillance cameras now. Conductors on streetcars? Don't need 'em. Branch offices? Computers again. Caused me to lose a few jobs. Law clerks? Paralegals can take your place and sometimes legal secretaries take the place of paralegals. Medical assistants often do now what nurses were once hired to do.
    There a fewer check-out clerks in supermarkets since they now have self-service check out stands.

    And so on.

    The point is, the work place is ever changing. People unfortunately get caught in the crossfire. Families too. It's not pretty. It's a shame but it's a fact of life. So is outsourcing.

    No guarantees. Most of us who have to earn a living will go through it at one time or another. If our jobs don't become obsolete the companies we work for will fold or get bought up. Lay-offs are a fact of life.

    I feel sorry for everyone who has to go through this. I felt sorry for me when I had to go through this. As I mentioned before, several times. More than several times.
    But you just have to do what you have to do and go on. And that's let go and figure out what to do next.
    Forgiveness Man
    Forgiveness Man
    …is a Chamber Royal.
    …is a Chamber Royal.


    Male
    Join date : 2010-06-25
    Location : Chilling on your sofa
    Posts : 6657
    Rep : 153

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Forgiveness Man Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:19 pm

    And this is only the beginning. Lots of jobs will be doing a vanishing act in the coming months. smh
    Alan Smithee
    Alan Smithee
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.


    Male
    Join date : 2010-09-03
    Location : 40º44’18.33”N 73º58’31.82”W
    Posts : 25792
    Rep : 381

    News Murray Energy Miners Allege They Had To Give Up Pay To Attend 'Mandatory' Romney Rally

    Post by Alan Smithee Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:45 pm

    Forgiveness Man wrote: smh

    Yeah. Me too.

    Earlier this month, Mitt Romney was welcomed for a campaign event at the Century Mine in Beallsville, Ohio, by hundreds of coal workers and their families. Now many of the mine's workers are saying they were forced to give up a day's worth of pay to attend the event, and they feared they might be fired if they didn’t, according to local news radio WWVA.

    The claims have been mostly denied by Rob Moore, Chief Financial Officer of Murray Energy Company, which owns the mine. He acknowledges that workers weren’t paid that day but says no one was made to attend the event. Well, kind of.

    "Our managers communicated to our workforce that the attendance at the Romney event was mandatory, but no one was forced to attend," he told local news radio WWVA, which has received several emails from workers claiming that the company records names of workers that don't attend those types of events.

    The company's interest in having its employees show support for Romney may be a result of its CEO's close ties with the presumptive Republican nominee. In May, Romney teamed up with Murray's CEO Bob Murray for a fundraising event in West Virginia. And Murray's made no secret of his support for the Republican party, previously backing Rick Perry.

    In addition, his company has donated more than $900,000 to Republican candidates in the last two years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

    Murray, who is also a climate-change denier, has been an outspoken critic of President Obama’s stance on coal. That view may be why Moore told WWVA that having employees attend the Romney event “was in the best interest of anyone that's related to the coal industry in this area or the entire country."

    This isn’t the first time workers have been frustrated by a Mitt Romney campaign event either. Employees of Sensata Technologies, a company owned by Romney’s previous employer Bain Capital, protested a campaign event earlier this month in Bettendorf, Iowa. In that case, Romney didn't respond to questions about what he would do to prevent their jobs being outsourced, The Rock River Times reports.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/28/century-mine-romney-ohio-mandatory_n_1836674.html

    Over at the New Republic, Alec MacGillis reports on the extent to which Ohio coal baron Bob Murray pressures his mining employees to underwrite the campaigns of GOP candidates, including presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

    A vocal proponent of the dubious "war on coal" mantra, the 72-year-old CEO of Murray Energy is one of Romney's biggest boosters in the must-win state of Ohio. Murray garnered national headlines in August after some of his miners lost pay in exchange for the opportunity to appear at a Romney campaign event. Attendance apparently wasn't optional.

    But according to MacGillis, Murray's employees have been pressured to donate much more to Republican office seekers than just their time. Encouraged by management, Murray workers have ponied up more than $120,000 to help elect Romney. MacGillis writes:

    The accounts of two sources who have worked in managerial positions at the firm, and a review of letters and memos to Murray employees, suggest that coercion may also explain Murray staffers’ financial support for Romney. Murray, it turns out, has for years pressured salaried employees to give to the Murray Energy political action committee (PAC) and to Republican candidates chosen by the company. Internal documents show that company officials track who is and is not giving. The sources say that those who do not give are at risk of being demoted or missing out on bonuses, claims Murray denies.

    According to documents obtained by TNR, Murray reprimands employees who fail to donate to his chosen candidates, going so far as to disseminate spreadsheets showing how much or how little his different subsidiaries are giving.

    Until his recent influence on national politics, Murray was perhaps best known for his role in the Crandall Canyon Mine disaster, in which six miners and three rescuers died at a Murray property in Utah in 2007. Murray blamed the tragedy on an earthquake; experts disagreed.

    As HuffPost reported last year, Murray has enlisted disgraced former Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) in lobbying against tighter safety regulations at mining operations.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/04/bob-murray-mitt-romney-miners_n_1940563.html
    Suzi
    Suzi
    …is a Power Member.
    …is a Power Member.


    Female
    Join date : 2011-03-01
    Location : BC, Canada
    Posts : 1529
    Rep : 85

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Suzi Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:22 am

    Forgiveness Man wrote:And this is only the beginning. Lots of jobs will be doing a vanishing act in the coming months. smh
    It is called spite, the companies would cut off their own noses to spite their faces. They will get even with their employees because people voted for Obama, ever hear of such crazy behavior? But that is about what I expect from that sort.
    wants2laugh
    wants2laugh
    …is a Power Member.
    …is a Power Member.


    Female
    Join date : 2011-07-10
    Location : South Jersey---yes we are a different state
    Posts : 3913
    Rep : 87

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by wants2laugh Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:50 am

    "Attendance was mandatory, but no one was forced to attend"--- that sounds EXACTLY like something that the Post Master General would say! omg!
    Nystyle709
    Nystyle709
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.
    ...is a 20G Chamber DIETY.


    Female
    Join date : 2010-03-16
    Location : New York
    Posts : 27030
    Rep : 339

    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Nystyle709 Mon Nov 26, 2012 6:54 pm

    LOL.

    Sponsored content


    News Re: Coal company to lay off 156 workers in Utah, Ill.

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:25 am