Nearly 300 workers laid off as Murray shutters Tower mine

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

Murray says it will remain closed 'until I can make it safe'
By Nate Carlisle and Mike Gorrell
The Salt Lake Tribune

PRICE - Crandall Canyon mine co-owner Robert Murray began telling nearly 300 workers Saturday they will lose their jobs because he plans to shutter the Tower mine.

Murray began what miners say he described as 270 temporary layoffs Saturday afternoon. Miner Jared Simms, a 32-year-old father of four from Helper, said Murray told miners the Tower mine would remain closed "until I can make it safe."


Jared Simms, a coal miner laid off Saturday from Robert... (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune )


Miners say Murray met with about 50 people during the afternoon shift at the West Ridge mine, apologizing for the disaster at Crandall Canyon mine. But he also said it has become impossible for him to do business in Utah.

Simms said Murray told the miners some of the Tower employees would be transferred to West Ridge while others would have the chance to work in Murray Energy's coal mines in Ohio and Illinois. Simms quoted Murray as saying the company would pay for the miners' way back to the Midwest and for their board in a bunkhouse, but that miners would have to pay their own way back to Utah if they wished to visit their families during their one week off after working three weeks.


Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_6722893

[Bluzmann57]

1. Gee that Murray is just a swell guy

I am not arguing about his decision to shutter this mine, but it seems the least he could do for the miners who are still alive is make sure they have jobs, and for those who will transfer to the Midwest, he could pay their way to go back and see their families. These guys will be a long way from home and may not know a soul in the Midwest, so they will likely need time with their families.

[ohio2007]

2. coal mining town only has coal mining jobs. or working for Ronald MacDonald

How many safety violations were against that mine I wonder.
He may have done those miners a favor by not working them to death.

[Kagemusha]

4. The governor pissed him off so Murray has to get even.

Murray did tell the governor about how all his whining about Murray's mine safety was jeopardizing 700 jobs. And now 300 of them are gone.

[NoAmericanTaliban]

3. F*ck Murry, Poster child for the ultimate corp. whore

At first I actually liked him. Seem to care for the miners that were trapped with all his press conferences, tears,& all. My wife didn't like him from the get go. She has a better read on people than I do. I always believe in giving someone the benefit of the doubt, which often is a losing proposition. Hope the survivors and minors sue the hell out of that bastard & the co. stock goes in the tank.

[sam sarrha]

5. have the families filed negligent homicide charges yet for Retreat mining

[brentspeak]

6. I hope Murray gets "shuttered"...behind bars

[bahrbearian]

7. Al gore made him do it.

[ikojo]

8. Two questions....

Are the mines in question unionized?

How many of these people voted for the party that supports lax regulation and allowing the people who own mines to oversee mine safety?

Not saying they deserve this but their votes and political leanings have consequences.