CHARLESTON — Five coal companies tied to Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), and his family are once again failing to provide health care coverage to retirees, violating a collective bargaining agreement, according to a new federal court filing.
In a court document filed Wednesday, retirees and the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) alleged that the Justice companies have not been processing or paying outstanding medical bills. These bills were submitted to the companies’ current health administrator under a union retiree benefit plan.
The filing marks the latest development in a long-standing dispute over retiree health benefits for workers from Justice’s coal companies, which have struggled financially in recent years.
The UMWA has previously accused the Justice companies of similar violations, arguing that retirees have faced delays and complications in receiving medical coverage. The union asserts that the companies’ failure to pay the medical bills has caused significant financial strain on retired miners and their families. The case underscores ongoing tensions between the Justice and workers’ welfare, particularly regarding the fulfillment of agreements made with his employees decades ago.
Legal experts suggest the outcome of this case could have broader implications for retiree benefits in the energy sector.
