No money, no coal: Why the latest group of Kentucky miners blocked a train over back pay
For the second time in a year, a group of Kentucky coal miners blocked a coal train to demand back wages from a mining company, marking the latest outbreak of miner labor activism as the Appalachian coal industry continues to decline.
The blockade outside a Pike County mine, which entered its third day Wednesday, was inspired by a similar protest last year in Harlan County over unpaid wages, which drew national attention to the plight of miners amid increasing coal bankruptcies.
About a dozen miners blocked tracks leading from a mine operated Quest Energy, a subsidiary of American Resources Corp., or ARC, near Kimper, Kentucky. They said the company was weeks behind in pay.
ARC admitted it was more than a week behind in pay but said late Tuesday it had paid its employees, and accused them of holding the train as "ransom." Some of the miners told reporters Wednesday they'd gotten checks but were staying until all owed pay was in their accounts.
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