More than three months after their paychecks were clawed out of their accounts, former Blackjewel coal miners are set to get their back pay.
As lawyers continued to meet in a courtroom over the bankruptcy hearings, two mines owned by the company in Wyoming were sold to Alabama-based FM Coal.
As a result of that sale, former miners will now receive their missing paychecks.
“It’s a light at the end of the tunnel, just hopefully it stays bright and they give the money like they supposed to,” said Darrell Raleigh, a former Blackjewel miner.
Darrell joined his wife Donna at the site of the old protest in Cumberland.
Bristol Herald Courier reports Blackjewel LLC agreed to pay $5.47 million in wages not earned between June 10th and July 1st. These wages will go to miners in Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
According to a report, Blackjewel Attorney Stephen Lerner says, paychecks will be mailed this week, and are being sent to the last known address of the employee.
Ned Pillersdorf, who is representing the miners said the battle is still not over. They are suing former Blackjewel CEO Jeff Hoops, Hoops’ son and Lexington Coal. He says the bankruptcy was illegitimate.
“They’re gonna get their back pay, but they were damaged a lot more than their back pay,” Pillersdorf said. “The real credit to all of this really belongs to the miners who courageously.. and their families who blocked the tracks. And we gotta give credit for the Department of Labor who weighed in our side, having said that we’re not done.”
“Today is a great day and one we’ve longed to see come,” said Dan Mosley, Harlan County Judge Executive. “The order that has been signed to pay miners the wages they’re owed is the action we’ve all been tirelessly working toward since July. My heart is overjoyed for these hardworking folks who took a stand in a professional way to say workers shouldn’t be treated this way. The Blackjewel miners, their families, and our entire community are eternally grateful to everyone that has fought alongside us to support these folks and see the day come that the miners were paid for their hard work. I’m so happy that day is here.”
“We’re gonna get through it and we’re gonna be better because of it because we’ve learned from this, we’ve learned we have each other back and we learned others have our back as well and that’s what’s really important,” Mosley added.
“Our Labor Cabinet has worked diligently with the Trump Administration since July to ensure that the miners affected by the Blackjewel closing are rightfully compensated,” said Governor Matt Bevin. “I am grateful that our perseverance has provided welcome and deserving news for the miners and their families. May we always appreciate the hard work of our coal miners, and may we always fight as hard on their behalf as they do to keep the lights on in our communities.”
“These miners were betrayed not only by Blackjewel but by their own state government, which failed to enforce the law that could have protected their wages. Credit goes to our miners who stood strong & captured the attention of the whole country, which led to today’s great news,” said Attorney General Andy Beshear.
“This is wonderful news for the Blackjewel coal miners. All the credit belongs to Gov. Bevin who put together a team that never gave up on these miners,” Labor Cabinet Secretary David A. Dickerson said. “The Labor Cabinet, along with the U.S. Department of Labor, have worked tirelessly and persistently since July 8 to get the miners paid. This is an example of the good things that can happen when people never stop working to right a wrong.”
“What happened to the Blackjewel miners should never happen again. Our miners face unprecedented challenges and deserve to be paid for their hard work and have opportunities to earn a good living for their families. I’m proud they stood together and won this battle for themselves and their families. But the fact remains that if Matt Bevin had done his job they would have been paid months ago,” said Steve Earle, Vice President of the United Mine Workers of America District 12.
“The way Blackjewel has treated the miners is shameful, and I applaud the Trump administration and Governor Bevin for going to bat for our miners. Today’s agreement will allow our miners to be paid back for their hard-earned work,” Senator Mitch McConnell said.