Turnout strong for mining jobs

Writer: Chuck Stinnett

How many people are interested in being underground coal miners at a new mine in Union County?

At least 800, judging by the turnout at the job fair Wednesday at Henderson Community College for the River View Mine that is under construction near Uniontown by Alliance Resource Partners.

There could be even more who are interested. A second job fair is planned Sept. 10 in Union County.

Just how many would turn out wasn't really known. River View General Manager Heath Lovell had hoped that 1,000 or more would attend the two job fairs.

Alliance hopes to find 300 inexperienced coal miners to join 234 miners the company will transfer from its other mines around the Tri-state and nearly 70 experienced miners it believes it can attract from other mines.

But the mining industry practically skipped a generation from the mid-1980s to the mid-2000s. Would younger workers -- men and women -- be interested in working in an underground environment where the ceiling is only 5 feet from the floor and where regular overtime will be expected?

Apparently the answer is yes. They waited in long lines Wednesday to put in their applications and take an initial test. More tests will follow.

And not all of the applicants were 20-somethings. There was some gray hair on some of the heads of the people filling out applications at HCC's Sullivan Tech Center.

The economic appeal is undeniable: Starting wages of $17, the possibility of earning $23 within nine months and excellent fringe benefits, including full health insurance for miners and their dependents. With overtime, miners could realistically gross $60,000 per year.

A significant number of those submitting applications were employees at Morganfield's Rayloc plant, which will lay off more than 420 people in October when it ceases manufacturing operations there, apparently moving production of NAPA rebuilt auto parts out of the United States.