Hundreds of workers left scrambling after Blackjewel unlocks mines Local news
Emotions were raw for many of the dozens of Blackjewel LLC workers who filed at the Gillette office in the Wyoming Workforce Center early Tuesday morning.
"You have people here who show all the feelings: crazy, happy, sad," says Chad Bonsness, a third generation coal mine money who spent the last two decades at the Eagle Butte coal mine just north of Gillette.
of about 580 Campbell County coal mines who found themselves suddenly out of work Monday afternoon when Blackjewel suddenly turned down Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr coal mines in Campbell County. that a $ 20 million line of contingency fund credits had not been secured to continue the operation at its 32 properties across the country.
The sudden closure was a sad conclusion to a difficult 4-day stretch for the company, which then started workers was not paid as promised Friday, they were paid with cashier checks Sunday, when was met with the bankruptcy news first Tuesday.
While many of h ans neighbors and colleague Blackjewel employees were angry and stunned as they filled out unemployment paperwork on Tuesday, Bonsness said he didn't have any hard feelings.
"I worked there for 20 years and I'm grateful for that," he said. "It's like your family (at the mine) because you spend half your life with these guys. … I did the job I loved, and you can't complain about it."
While grateful for the past 20 years, Bonsness that he has no illusions that there may be some difficult times ahead for Blackjewel workers if the company can "t secure funding and start operating again.
" Yes, it's going to be tough, "he said. "You have 600 people looking for the same jobs."
Michael Robert and Nancy Reynolds both worked with Blackjewel night shifts, saying they were frustrated by a general lack of communication that allowed some employees to learn the lock on social media.
"That's what kills me about this thing," said Robert, who said he was told he didn't come in for his Monday night shifting through a text.
What is troubling for many, Reynolds said, how suddenly the closure happened, even though it was a sign, the company was in the process Bel, the employees were not prepared for how the trigger was unfolded.
"It took me some time to process everything," she said. "The reality of it is a bit more today. I didn't really think so." and its president and CEO, Jeff Hoops, filed for the reorganization of Chapter 1[ads1]1 in a West Virginia federal bankruptcy Monday morning.
It's news that met miners when they reported for work at the Eagle Butte mine early Monday. Employees were gathered in a meeting, told about the bankruptcy and sent out to do their job. A few hours later they were called back.
"They pulled us into another meeting and (a manager) came in and told us:" We don't have the money. The bankruptcy did not go as planned and we could not pay you, "said one employee who asked not to be identified." We are loading our toolboxes and everything right now. "
What did not go as planned was United Bank of West Virginia denied Blackjewel's $ 20 million credit application to keep his mines afloat. Company employees learned about the denial that a scheduled hearing was calling to rule the first day of bankruptcy, including an emergency move to allow the company to continue mining. 19659002] Instead, the hearing was interrupted without anything being taken, a court clerk said, should Blackjewel secure money to cover these operating costs, a new move could be brought to court.
When contacting Gillette News Record on Tuesday morning , Hoops said he didn't have time to answer questions about bankruptcy and my closures
"I'm too keen to try to save those people's jobs," he said. 9659002] With the bankruptcy of limbo, it is also the job of hundreds of area groups and Campbell County, due to about $ 37 million in unpaid production fees.
The Powder River Basin Resource Council, a Sheridan-based conservation group, has been pronounced on Blackjewel LLC and its spotty history in other states.
"We are very concerned with Blackjewel's employees and their benefits as well as the millions of dollars in criminal values," said Joyce Evans, group leader in a statement. "Furthermore, we are concerned about who will continue (247 million dollars) of the recovery work on both mines and whether the financial guarantees will cover hundreds of millions of dollars in Bonds. "
Next Step
While Hoops said the company is trying to get its employees back to work, State and local officials are already planning to handle hundreds of unemployment claims and help with insurance, job search and other services, said Rick Mansheim, director of Gillette Wyoming Workforce Center.
He said the center of the 551 Running W Drive in Gillette will have expanded hours from 8 am to 7 pm the rest of this week, then from 7 am to 7 pm next week
In addition to the extended hours, Wyoming Workforce Services will be at Gillette College Technical Education Center at 14.00. Wednesday and 9:00 am Monday. Other efforts are at work for a potential job fair and securing money to help with career education.
Mansheim said his office learned about the lockout when a woman from one of the mines came in at 3am Monday saying she had just been laid off and headed straight there.
"This one has really taken us away," he said. "We had no idea this was coming."
For Bonsness, the situation still feels surreal. The saying that the last one to leave would prove that the lights are like he and another employee were the last two at Eagle Butte on Monday. They walked around to make sure all the lights and equipment were turned off and placed properly.
Bonsness said he was reflective while doing these rounds.
"The last drive down the road was pretty lonely," he said. "You think you know this can be your last time out there."