Thread by @taykuy

One of toughest parts about covering U.S. coal (and with black lung, fatalities, etc. there’s plenty of tough parts) has been reading letters from miners and families pleading w/ companies to preserve promises made before bankruptcy. A few to Westmoreland Coal follows here. 1/

First, however, I’ll point out @hroxaner touched on some letters and concerns for the Casper Star Tribune and bundled it up with context around the case and what many miners’ families are going to be thinking about heading into this Christmas holiday.
trib.com/business/energ… 2/

A few other letters filed since: Leroy Vigil started mining as a young man but his health is deteriorating and he’s “too old to go out and work.” He’s “confident that you will not forget about all of us miners that broke our backs” in letter to judge. 3/

Perry Hushka said he had to retire early because of the chance of losing his pension after a 22 year career with Westmoreland. Now, he’s begging the judge consider the hardship losing his health insurance would cause for his family. 4/

Virginia Nunez, a widow, recalls her heart feeling stopping every time she heard an ambulance as her husband put 20 years in the mine. A friend died in the mine. Her father died of black lung. Now she worries she’s going to lose the pension covering her monthly expenses. 5/

Losing their healthcare “would literally mean life and death to some of us,” says Louie Santistevan. “We are simply and rightfully asking that Westmoreland keep their promise and we are able to continue to have health care while we age in peace,” he added. 6/

Betty McDavid said her husband died from cancer earlier this year believing his wife would be okay thanks to benefits won from years of working in fear every day something could go wrong. She doesn’t want a “lavish lifestyle,” just to live comfortably and keep paying bills. 7/

Lynn Kruckenberg says he doesn’t really have days where his knees don’t hurt anymore. He says he worked through the pain because he didn’t want to burden the company or his coworkers, but now he’ll be a burden to his family if he loses his benefits. 8/

Based on coal bankruptcies I’ve covered, my prediction would be UMWA fights hard for these employees, but will be forced into some sort of concession with Westmoreland and any new owner that doesn’t want the obligations. Tough to tell if concessions will be big or small. 9/

Few related recent pieces from us for further reading:
Latest spglobal.com/marketintellig…
Westmoreland seeks bonuses for “valued employees” spglobal.com/marketintellig…
Union lawsuit spglobal.com/marketintellig…
Declining unionized coal production: spglobal.com/marketintellig…
10 and end/