Coal company accuses protesting miners of ‘spreading lies’ and demanding ‘ransom’

A financially troubled coal company lashed out at protesting miners late Tuesday who are blocking a train loaded with its coal in Eastern Kentucky, saying it has now paid the miners what they are owed and accusing them of “spreading lies.”

Several of the protesting miners in Pike County said early Wednesday that they received payment from American Resources Corporation on Tuesday for two weeks of work, but that the checks did not include overtime pay or vacation days, and that they will continue to protest until they receive full compensation.

Their statements contradict one from ARC sent late Tuesday, in which the company said employees “had been paid what they are owed,” and accused the protesting miners of holding up the train as “ransom.”

The protest began Monday when ARC employees blocked a train hauling coal from a mine near Kimper over unpaid wages.

“Unfortunately what they are demanding now is ransom and spreading lies at the expense of all of the rest of our amazing employees, which have reached out with great support for the company and their jobs,” ARC said in its statement. “It’s unfortunate the lies that are being spread by them as it could cost all the rest of our 200+ employees future employment in an already challenged industry.”

Miners interviewed Wednesday said their checks did not include overtime hours, shorting one miner 32 hours of pay over two weeks.

Dusty Maynard, one of the protesting ARC miners, said he received two weeks pay, but said he will continue to block the train until he receives overtime hours and payment for vacation days. Maynard said he also does not believe the company will make good on its upcoming payday, which is Friday.

“We had to stop a train just to get the other two weeks,” Maynard said. “Can anybody believe them now?”

The protest is the second in six months where Kentucky coal miners blocked a railroad track to protest unpaid wages. The blockade has attracted attention from politicians at every level, including Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones, Gov. Andy Beshear and U.S. Senators Mitch McConnell and Bernie Sanders.

All pledged their support of the miners. Beshear promised definitive action, including issuing a closure order for an ARC preparation plant and coal mine until the miners are paid in full, and strict enforcement of a state law that requires many coal and construction companies to post a bond with the Labor Cabinet to protect wages.

In a previous statement to media, ARC claimed that some employees were owed for eight days of work, and that some were owed for one day. On Tuesday, however, several employees said the company began issuing payments for two weeks of pay.

Kenny Collins, one of the two ARC miners who first blocked the train Monday, said he could not trust the company to make good on the rest of the money he is owed. His last paycheck is scheduled to arrive Friday.

“If we let that train go by, it’ll be the same thing all over again,” Collins said.

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 11:51 AM.