Miners' Benefits Vanish with Bankruptcy Ruling

[Cadfael]

MITHERS, W.Va., Oct. 22 - After 31 years, Carl Leake retired last year from the Cannelton mine near here with what he thought was a rock-solid promise of health insurance for life under his union contract. And a vital promise it was: this summer, his wife was found to have breast cancer and her treatment has cost more than $200,000.


But last month, a federal bankruptcy judge in Kentucky authorized Cannelton's owner, Horizon Natural Resources, to terminate its collective bargaining agreements with the United Mine Workers of America. And just like that, Mr. Leake's guaranteed health insurance was gone.

"I figure we could lose everything if we have to pay her bills," Mr. Leake, 61, said.

Mr. Leake is one of nearly 3,800 union coal miners and their dependents in West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana whose company-financed health insurance vanished with a swipe of Judge William S. Howard's pen last month. The union has pledged to cover their health insurance for six months. But beyond that, many workers are facing a future with no insurance or monthly premiums they can barely afford.
<snip>
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/24/national/24miners.html?th

[fudge stripe cookays]

1. Oh this just makes me ILL.

I can't stand the thought of these people suffering so. Did that judge have any idea what that ruling was going to do?

For cryin out loud.
FSC

[Florida_Geek]

2. And how many miners are voting for Bush this

election cycle..? ? ? ? ? ?

[NVMojo]

13. come to Northeast Nevada, the State Repukes have spread

rumors that Kerry is going to raise royalty fees on mines pulling billions out of public BLM lands up here and taking it overseas. They have been told that Bush will protect mining. The Kerry campaign has sent Elizabeth Edwards and a Steelworkers Union rep up here to counteract the rumors spread by the repukes. Scary crap. I tell you.

[Laelth]

3. Just like we've been telling them ...

privatizing retirement benefits (i.e. destroying social security) is not a good idea. Wonder how long it will take the American people, as a whole, to figure this out?

Privatization sux!

:mad:

-Laelth

[saigon68]

4. When they vote for the Chimp

At least they will know that their GUNS will be safe.

[flygal]

10. You beat me to it - I was just going to post that!!

[saigon68]

14. They could also think ------ after voting for the Chimp

that the "Trial Lawyers" wouldn't be as rich either.

[classof56]

5. Oh, golly--another one o' them "activist judges" at work!

When Bushie wins, I'm sure he'll replace this judge right away, with one who's more "compassionate". Yeah, right! <sarcasm off now>

DEFEAT BUSH!!

[Deja Q]

6. The cost of life in our 'culture of life'. What a crock of cow shit.

I'm speechless with frustration and anger over the duplicity of those who run this country. :cry: x(

Indeed. What the fuck is our 'culture of life' anyway? Carnivorous bacteria?

[The Zanti Regent]

7. Well, now, where are the churches?

idiots like my aunt say that the CHURCHES are responsible for the needy. I repeatedly tell her that singing "Gawd will take Care of You" don't pay the bills, but she's too busy watching Paul Crouch rip off more money from people to pay kickbacks to his gay lover...

[bleedingheart]

8. Oh those Corporate Activist Judges!!!!!

rulling in favor of companies over people!

[mbperrin]

9. Repeat after me.

It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to lie.
It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to steal.
It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to cheat.
It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to bend.
It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to screw employees.
It is perfectly legal and always has been, for corporations to do anything they like under any circumstances for money.

If you want a guarantee, vote it in and keep it in at the government level.

Period.

There are no questions.

[DS1]

11. It's also politically feasible to screw over the working class in

red states, since everything revolves around the Electoral College, and the Miner's Union isn't enough to sway such a state.

Case in point - Enron in Texas wiping out the life savings of thousands of employees while cashing out. If this were done over state lines, it would be a Federal crime.

[flygal]

12. I'm new here so I missed out on all the Enron stuff...

But this right here is why I can't vote Repug. I became a staunch dem researching the 92 elect. and I just can't put my faith into a corp. I was mainly interested in the Family/med leave act Poppy wouldn't pass.

Do you think those Enron employees all voted for Bush to keep gov out their business; and then cried at Capital Hill for the gov to get their retirement back? I wonder who their voting for this time around?

[nonconformist]

15. I'm going to print this article out and pass it on to some coal miners

here in SE Kentucky.

[struggle4progress]

16. Look! It's the ownership society!

Corporations have been screwing miners in this fashion for years and years.