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Murray Energy Corp., UMWA Come to Agreement

WHEELING — Murray Energy Corp. and the United Mine Workers of America Friday announced a tentative labor agreement that will impact workers at six Murray mines through the end of 2021.

The agreement — which would cover union employees at the Ohio County, Marshall County, Marion County, Harrison County and Monongalia County mines in West Virginia, as well as the remaining workers at the soon-to-close Powhatan No. 6 Mine — would last through Dec. 31, 2021.

The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by UMWA members. UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said the vote would take place Tuesday.

“This tentative agreement comes six months before the expiration of the current agreement. However, the rapidly deteriorating status of the American coal industry means that it is important to lock in the best terms and conditions we can before things get any worse,” Roberts said. “We believe this proposal does that, but it is up to the UMWA members who will vote on this agreement to make the final determination.”

Robert E. Murray serves as president, chairman and CEO of Murray Energy and chairman of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association.

“We are pleased that the BCOA and UMWA have reached this very important tentative agreement, which will go a long way in ensuring that Murray American’s UMWA-represented employees are able to continue working, even in this very depressed coal marketplace,” Murray said. “Indeed, over the past several years, the U.S. coal industry has been absolutely destroyed by policies of the Obama administration and by the increased use of natural gas to generate electricity.

“Coal markets and prices have generally been cut in half. This tentative agreement provides the BCOA and UMWA with a path forward, even in these extremely difficult times,” Murray continued.

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