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Thousands of coal miners, some of them declared having black lung disease,
will be losing their medical coverage.
US Bankruptcy Judge William Howard ruled yesterday that Horizon Natural
Resources does not have to honor union contracts that guaranteed benefits to
100,000 active miners and some 2,300 retirees.
UMWV President Cecil Roberts called the decision "a complete and utter
travesty of justice." He added that the workers have done absolutely nothing
wrong.
Numerous coal corporations have been attempting to back out of benefit
packages related to health care and retirement benefits.
Horizon Natural Resources, the nation's fourth largest coal company, has
mines in West Virginia, Illinois and Kentucky. It has declared bankruptcy.
The order sparked an immediate outcry from the United Mine Workers of
America, which has staged massive protests on the streets of Lexington,
Kentucky.
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