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So this story got me thinking about how West Virginia could do better for everyone. Give me a moment, I'm working on this
<THREAD> https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-coal-endorsements-exclus/exclusive-u-s-miners-union-to-endorse-two-more-democrats-in-coal-country-idUSKBN1GY1YM
<THREAD> https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-coal-endorsements-exclus/exclusive-u-s-miners-union-to-endorse-two-more-democrats-in-coal-country-idUSKBN1GY1YM
Essentially, the Miners Union needs help for it's members. They need their pensions (which they deserve) and continued healthcare. Coal jobs aren't coming back fast enough and WV knows that.
While working on this story and working out the angles, my good friend @ninaandtito and @Peaceful_411 dropped this story about WV that was just weird but true.
WV coal town, asks the Soviet Embassy for help. Really happened.
BC WV wouldn't http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/02/23/the-west-virginia-town-that-applied-for-soviet-foreign-aid-1/
WV coal town, asks the Soviet Embassy for help. Really happened.
BC WV wouldn't http://appalachianmagazine.com/2014/02/23/the-west-virginia-town-that-applied-for-soviet-foreign-aid-1/
Now that story was back in the 70's. Small town, train runs through it but doesn't stop one bridge, bad roads, and no easy way in or out.
The Soviet Embassy, looking to make the U.S. look bad, agreed to help!
The Soviet Embassy, looking to make the U.S. look bad, agreed to help!
Embarrassed by the attention their lack of assistance was receiving, state officials wasted no time in committing $1.3 million and built a bridge for the tiny community.
Though the only legal way to access the community of Vulcan, West Virginia, continues to be via Pike County, Kentucky, residents of the former mining town now enjoy a one-lane graffiti covered bridge connecting them to the âoutside world!â
Now, I'm no expert on WV. I'm sure there are others out there that will tell me that, but WV is a beautiful state. Go there sometime if you haven't. But it hasn't treated it's residents of the state well for many years.
The fact that a Miners Union is willing to support Democrats as well as Republicans, is a good thing. So I have to digress a little here, if you don't mind.
It's about coal
It's about coal
In 2009, this acquisition was announced by Mechel North, a leading Russian owned mining business. They acquired all of Bluestone Coal's businesses an it's debt.
$436 Million dollars worth.
I'm gonna bet that whomever owned this operation, loves this https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/04/22/396012/163586/en/Mechel-Announces-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Coking-Coal-Assets-of-Bluestone-Coal-Corp.html
$436 Million dollars worth.
I'm gonna bet that whomever owned this operation, loves this https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2009/04/22/396012/163586/en/Mechel-Announces-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Coking-Coal-Assets-of-Bluestone-Coal-Corp.html
And that person, who I am sure you've heard of, was Jim Justice.
After years in operation he gladly sold the whole thing to a Russian owned company
After years in operation he gladly sold the whole thing to a Russian owned company
Igor Zyuzin is the CEO of this operation https://g.co/kgs/KWhTik
In 2016, although Zyuzin has not supported Putin and tried to stay out of the limelight, got into some trouble and Putin came in and bailed him out.
There were worries about the debt with Gazprombank
There were worries about the debt with Gazprombank
The brother of Putinâs son-in-law sits on Gazprombankâs board, and the bank has previously financed projects for Kremlin allies.
PUTIN"S SON IN LAW on the BOARD
PUTIN"S SON IN LAW on the BOARD
Those involved in brokering the deal included Igor Sechin, a Putin lieutenant and chief executive of state-owned oil giant Rosneft, according to one source.
3 years after their acquisition, the Buestone Coal mines begun laying off workers.
http://www.wvva.com/story/19858853/first-on-wvva-local-miners-told-mines-being-idled
http://www.wvva.com/story/19858853/first-on-wvva-local-miners-told-mines-being-idled
By 2015, Mechel, a LEADER in mining in Russia, has lost so much money in this mining operation they are willing to sell it back to Jim Justice for a mere $5 Million dollars. Really? When I first heard this, I couldn't believe it. Why so little
But I find it interesting. If the mine is sold, they still get a %. If they mine coal, Mechel gets $ and the dispute between them about a payment is written off.
Losses written off, debt written off.
Losses written off, debt written off.
This was interesting headline https://www.wvgazettemail.com/business/justice-buys-back-coal-company-from-russians/article_f4c55841-57c4-58eb-8a46-493ed7eb866e.html
So, with the money he got from the sale of some of his mining interests, he acquired another resort.
He still has a serious record mining violations in both WV and KY.
He still has a serious record mining violations in both WV and KY.
He said he was going to hire folks. Trump repeated it at a rally. http://www.register-herald.com/news/justice-to-reopen-four-mines/article_c49e26ab-6aec-56eb-bb62-e088d5c912f0.html
Class Action against Bluestone approved by judge this year. Layoffs and firings among the issues.
It's wrong for WV coal workers to be treated like this,
It's worse that Russia and Justice might have laundered money in this deal
https://miningconnection.com/longwall/news/article/judge_allows_class_action_suit_against_bluestone_coal_in_warn_case_w._va
It's wrong for WV coal workers to be treated like this,
It's worse that Russia and Justice might have laundered money in this deal
https://miningconnection.com/longwall/news/article/judge_allows_class_action_suit_against_bluestone_coal_in_warn_case_w._va
I end this here, but another story will begin from this.
They are all tied together
They are all tied together
