Coal mine standoff in Kentucky moves to negotiation between parties

Scott Tong Sep 12, 2019
HTML EMBED:
COPY
Unemployed Blackjewel coal miner Chris Lewis shows his tattoo as he participates in a blockade along the railroad tracks that lead to one of Blackjewel's mines on August 08, 2019 near Cumberland, Kentucky. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Coal mine standoff in Kentucky moves to negotiation between parties

Scott Tong Sep 12, 2019
Unemployed Blackjewel coal miner Chris Lewis shows his tattoo as he participates in a blockade along the railroad tracks that lead to one of Blackjewel's mines on August 08, 2019 near Cumberland, Kentucky. Scott Olson/Getty Images
HTML EMBED:
COPY

For seven weeks, miners in Kentucky’s Harlan County have stood on the tracks and blocked coal trains from bringing the product to market. They’re demanding to be paid, as mine owner Blackjewel declared bankruptcy in July and bounced paychecks for some 1100 miners.

According to a document filed in federal court, the two sides are now engaged in “good-faith negotiations” to break the deadlock and negotiate outside the formal process of bankruptcy proceedings. Even if the parties agree on a deal, it’s unclear whether Blackjewel mines will reopen in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.