Mayor of Cumberland discusses consequences of Blackjewel bankruptcy



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Harlan County, Ky. (WYMT) – The miners are still looking for answers after mining company Blackjewel LLC filed for bankruptcy.

"It's a slap for them when they can not get a simple answer on their next life next week," said Cumberland Mayor Charles Raleigh.

The wife of a minor, Meagan Thacker, says that she does not know how she will pay the mortgage, let alone put food on the table.

"What should we do?" The mere fact of being in limbo is just ridiculous, we do not know how to survive that way, "Thacker said. "We are sort of in panic and survival mode right now."

The former job of Thacker's husband was remunerated at the minimum wage, which means that filing an unemployment application will not help much.

"We will see almost nothing about unemployment as to what we could have gotten if he had received a formal layoff notice," said Thacker.

The bankruptcy arrived with little notice and the miners left work with their equipment still in their lockers.

"Many of these guys left the majority of their business because they thought they could get a job back in a few days," Thacker said.

The equipment is their own personal equipment that is worth thousands of dollars. Not having their tools prevents some of the miners from looking for a new job.

"If they do not release this equipment, we will have to take action on it," Raleigh said.

Raleigh says the mining company does not let miners recover their equipment is the same as theft.

Attorney General Andy Beshear issued a statement Friday saying that he was using all his powers and all his resources to find answers to minors and their families.

Earlier this week, a federal judge approved a $ 5 million loan to Blackjewl on the condition that CEO Jeff Hoops resign.

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