Mine Owner Blames Obama Administration for Layoffs

[cali]

GALATIA -- A local coal mine is cutting jobs and blaming it on politics. American Coal in Galatia laid off 54 miners on Wednesday, saying President Barack Obama's re-election is bad news for the coal industry.

Layoffs are never easy for those losing their jobs, but for a region already economically depressed, the loss of 54 jobs cuts deeply. The sting is made all the more worse knowing the move could be politically motivated.

"There is no question that the United States coal industry is being destroyed by the actions of Barack H. Obama," said Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, during the Old King Coal Festival in September.

Murray authorized the pink slips at American Coal, a subsidiary company, just hours after the re-election of President Obama. In a news release, Murray Energy blamed the Obama Administration's "War on Coal", stating the layoffs were more severe in anticipation that the coal industry will get worse in the next four years.

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http://www.wsiltv.com/news/local/Mine-Owner-Blames-Obama-Administration-for-Layoffs--177987291.html

There are a shitload of stories like this one.

[malaise]

1. Murray should have been locked up in prison for manslaughter years ago

Fuck that criminal

[cali]

3. No doubt about that.

He's scum of the worst kind.

[The Straight Story]

2. WHat many on the right will miss is this though:

"American Coal has a history of laying off and rehiring workers at the Galatia mine. During December 2005 and January 2006, more than 400 miners were let go. A year later, the company was hiring. In February 2007, an American Coal spokesman told News 3 the mine had rehired 300 employees and planned to add another 250 jobs by the end of that year. "

Cutting 54 now but 400 under bush....sounds like they are just whining to please their republican masters.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. I think you have the cart before the horse

Bob Murray, murderer of mine workers, is the master of Republicans. That's one of the reasons why the Republicans lost.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

4. Perhaps working in an industry that is destroying the environment is a bad career move.

Thank heaven The President has the courage to regulate this filthy form of energy production.

A few jobs are not worth making the planet unlivable.

[exboyfil]

5. Tell that to the miners making $70K/yr.

More likely they are losing their jobs because of natural gas fracking, but in today's world how many jobs can you get for that salary without a college degree and years of experience.

I am not saying that we should not do something about carbon emissions, but you might want to think about the impact of transitioning technologies. It is easy to sit in front of our computers and make such statements, but policy decisions going forward will have real impact in people's lives. These folks are probably some of the hardest working people in this country.

[SubgeniusHasSlack]

6. Career choices have consequences.

I make less than that, but work in a clean industry.

My family's quality of life is great and I can sleep soundly at night knowing that I am not destroying the environment daily.

[exboyfil]

9. Career choices like being UAW auto workers

working for a company by all rights should be dead because of mismanagement. Workers who benefitted by a bailout that did not consider the needs or the laws on the books of other stakeholders (such as bondholders and salaried pensions).

Workers that work on cars that generate the same CO2 we complain about for coal.

Such hubris and lack of empathy will lead to losses in two years.

[Bandit]

10. Like the Chevy Volt or all the other electric or hybrid autos that workers can't produce enough of.

The demand for electric and hybrid autos is so strong factories can not keep up with demand.. Yet coal is on the decline and it sure isn't because of Barack Obama.. I guess you think we should now kiss Murray's ass to save coal miner's jobs. It could very well be a blessing in disquise for them. Get them out from under such a man as their boss shows himself to be....

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Likely scenario.

Pink slips today. Wait a spell and re-hire at a lesser wage.

[My Good Babushka]

8. The war on coal is being waged by natural gas

It's cheaper, it's enjoyed very heavy investment over the past few years. That's the free market at work.

[MNBrewer]

11. Prefacing a political rant with "Dear Lord" and ending it with "Amen"

doesn't turn it into a prayer!

[1-Old-Man]

13. Natural gas costs $2~$3 on the spot market, coal simply can not compete for its traditional markets.

When gas cost $12 a million BTUs coal could compete with it for powering electricity generation plants, the primary use of coal. But the price of gas has dropped to two to three dollars and that is what is killing coal mining. Coal will disappear as fast as power plants are converted to gas or new plants are built. End of story, the coal story.