https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/coal-industry-collapsing-coal-workers-153000400.html
"It's just heartbreaking now that they closed down they take their workers' pensions, they take their retirements, their savings, anything they had in the company. They file bankruptcy...As long as they got their money in their pocket they don't care," said Lilly.
In the documentary, Mary Anne Hitt, director of Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign and a West Virginia resident, described the aftermath of a mine layoff as a "life and death struggle" for local communities. She described the scene as one she's seen time and again, where coal companies "want to shed their obligations to workers, that includes pensions and healthcare commitments."
In a tale familiar to coal communities, Oliver highlighted the story of when Alpha Natural Resources filed for bankruptcy two years ago. CEO Kevin Crutchfield appeared on television with tears in his eyes talking about how he felt for his coal workers. However, Oliver found court documents stating Alpha later asked its bankruptcy trustee if the coal company could save $3 million by cutting health and life insurance benefits of around 1,200 non-union retirees — so that the company could then pay $11.9 million in bonuses to fifteen top executives, including Crutchfield.
Coal miners overwhelmingly supported President Trump in the 2016 election. Trump appealed to the loss of coal jobs in Appalachia, and blamed the loss on environmental regulations — but statistics show natural gas is pricing coal out of the market, not regulations.
In 2010, about 45% of the electricity in the US came from coal, with 24% from natural gas and 31% coming from other sources. As of 2016 the stats were 30% coal, 34% natural gas, and 36% other,according to the US Energy and Information Administration.
"It's just heartbreaking now that they closed down they take their workers' pensions, they take their retirements, their savings, anything they had in the company. They file bankruptcy...As long as they got their money in their pocket they don't care," said Lilly.
In the documentary, Mary Anne Hitt, director of Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign and a West Virginia resident, described the aftermath of a mine layoff as a "life and death struggle" for local communities. She described the scene as one she's seen time and again, where coal companies "want to shed their obligations to workers, that includes pensions and healthcare commitments."
In a tale familiar to coal communities, Oliver highlighted the story of when Alpha Natural Resources filed for bankruptcy two years ago. CEO Kevin Crutchfield appeared on television with tears in his eyes talking about how he felt for his coal workers. However, Oliver found court documents stating Alpha later asked its bankruptcy trustee if the coal company could save $3 million by cutting health and life insurance benefits of around 1,200 non-union retirees — so that the company could then pay $11.9 million in bonuses to fifteen top executives, including Crutchfield.
Coal miners overwhelmingly supported President Trump in the 2016 election. Trump appealed to the loss of coal jobs in Appalachia, and blamed the loss on environmental regulations — but statistics show natural gas is pricing coal out of the market, not regulations.
In 2010, about 45% of the electricity in the US came from coal, with 24% from natural gas and 31% coming from other sources. As of 2016 the stats were 30% coal, 34% natural gas, and 36% other,according to the US Energy and Information Administration.
