It is no secret that the industry that helps light up the world
is facing dark times.
"The cost of production is above
what the market can bare," explained Bill Rainey, president of the West
Virginia Coal Association, "so people are having to cut back."
"It's particularly deep in eastern
Kentucky , but it's beginning to clearly affect
West Virginia
James River Coal Company announced
Monday it has furloughed approximately 525 full time coal workers and is idling
production at three operations in eastern Kentucky
It is the second major layoff by the
company in six months.
In West Virginia ,
200 jobs
were eliminated at Patriot Coal Facilities in Logan County
were eliminated at Patriot Coal Facilities in
Rainey said coal mining is like any
other job:
if you have a specialty, you have an edge.
:
if you have a specialty, you have an edge.
"Foreman, electrician,
when you have that kind of skill level, then I think there are opportunities out
there," Rainey said.
,
when you have that kind of skill level, then I think there are opportunities out
there," Rainey said.
A quick Internet search shows a slim
market. Underground mine jobs are slim in West Virginia Kentucky
