Blackhawk Mining initiated the rehiring process of former Patriot Coal employees on Monday in preparation for the Lexington-based company to take over six mining complexes in West Virginia later this week.
The takeover by Blackhawk, which already owns mining operations in Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia, is the result of Patriot Coal's most recent bankruptcy, which the company filed in federal court in June. In the bankruptcy proceedings, Blackhawk won the bid to take over the majority of Patriot Coal's assets, including numerous mines in West Virginia.
Jesse Parrish, the vice president of Blackhawk Mining, said Monday marked the first day that former Patriot employees could reapply for their jobs, and he said roughly 1,400 former Patriot employees are expected to be rehired.
The application process comes nearly a month after Patriot issued federally mandated WARN notices, which informed roughly 2,000 Patriot employees in West Virginia that their jobs might be subject to change as a result of the bankruptcy proceedings.
On Monday, former Patriot miners from former Patriot mines in West Virginia drove to the Charleston Civic Center to get the paperwork needed to reapply for their jobs.
But while the miners showed up hoping to hear that they were rehired, many were told that their hours and pay could be cut as a result of Blackhawk's takeover.
Mark Watts, one of the former Patriot employees at the Cabin Creek mine, was told his hours would be cut from five days a week to three, and that his pay was expected to drop too.
The news of the altered work schedule presented serious concerns for many of the miners, Watts said. He was pessimistic that any of the miners' fates would improve.
"It's only going to get worse. It's not going to get any better," Watts said.
Unlike other miners at the meeting, Watts said he didn't have any young children to take care of, but said he had just purchased a house near Beckley.
With the reduced hours and pay, Watts said he wasn't sure how he or his coworkers would be able to afford their bills, even while working.
Blackhawk's takeover will include Patriot's former operations at the Wells, Panther, Paint Creek, Rocklick, Kanawha Eagle and Midland Trail complexes.
Parrish said those acquisitions are expected to increase Blackhawk's production this year from a forecasted 11 million tons of coal to roughly 20 million tons. He said mining could recommence at those mines as early as this week.
"We hope to begin as soon as possible," he said.
Reach Andrew Brown at andrew.brown@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4814, or follow @Andy_Ed_Brown.