Coal Workers Say Murray Energy 'Coerces' Them to Make GOP Donations: 'If You Don’t Contribute, Your Job's at Stake'

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"You've got a great boss," Mitt Romney proclaimed [3] to a crowd of coal miners at a campaign rally in August.

He was referring to Robert Murray, the CEO of Murray Energy, one of the largest coal mining operators in the country.

For Romney, that statement was particularly true. According to accounts from multiple coal miners, employees were forced to attend the event [4] without pay. "Just for the record, if we did not go, we knew what would happen," said one miner in a letter to a local radio station. Weeks later, Romney's campaign featured images of the coal miners in a pro-coal ad. (The Obama campaign hit back this week [5] with an ad claiming Romney used coal workers as "props").

But that was just the tip of the iceberg. An expose from New Republic Senior Editor Alec MacGillis shows that Murray Energy is doing far more than requiring employees to spend uncompensated time at campaign events — the company is actually requiring them to donate to GOP candidates [6] like Romney:

The accounts of two sources who have worked in managerial positions at the firm, and a review of letters and memos to Murray employees, suggest that coercion may also explain Murray staffers' financial support for Romney.

Murray, it turns out, has for years pressured salaried employees to give to the Murray Energy political action committee (PAC) and to Republican candidates chosen by the company.

Internal documents show that company officials track who is and is not giving.

The sources say that those who do not give are at risk of being demoted or missing out on bonuses,

claims Murray denies.

The Murray sources, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, came forward separately. But they painted similar pictures of the fund-raising operation.

"There's a lot of coercion," says one of them. "I just wanted to work, but you feel this constant pressure that, if you don't contribute, your job's at stake. You're compelled to do this whether you want to or not."

Says the second: "They will give you a call if you're not giving. . . . It's expected you give Mr. Murray what he asks for."

This spring, Murray organized a fundraiser [7] for Mitt Romney, eventually bundling more than a million and half dollars for the candidate. According to the New Republic, employees of Murray Energy have donated more than $1.4 million to Republican candidates — with $120,000 raised for Romney this campaign season alone.

While employees say Murray does not explicitly force them to make donations, he makes it very clear what could happen if they don't contribute some of their salary to Republicans. "We have been insulted by every salaried employee who does not support our efforts," he wrote in one 2012 letter [8] obtained by the New Republic.

And in a 2011 letter [9] to company managers, Murray alluded to potential consequences if employees did not donate: "Please see that our salaried employees 'step up,' for their own sakes and those of their employees."

http://www.alternet....dont-contribute

[Captain Oates 911]

oops - post burp

Edited October 9, 2012 by Captain Oates

[Captain Oates 911]

..................

Makes you not want to work down a coal mine owned by brown shirts

[Obama 2012 1,714]

*yawn* no real difference from Union thugs coming out and using dues to support candidates.

[Captain Oates 911]

*yawn* no real difference from Union thugs coming out and using dues to support candidates.

Except the Union can't fire you...

[Ban Hammer 13,408]

Except the Union can't fire you...

they'll just make it worth your while to quit.

[Captain Oates 911]

they'll just make it worth your while to quit.

Unions never bothered me as much as the company bosses.

During the miner's strikes I was in the Police Force and keeping the power stations open

I was spat on by 100 coal miners at a time, trampled by dozens of them and dragged under a semi truck - but its all part of the fun

Twenty years later I was fired by American management and that really messed my life up for a while

I will take the union stuff any time

Being told to vote R or be fired is from the 1800's. It's like going back in time

My dad was given 2 hours off on a Saturday afternoon to get married.

He was told he would be fired if he wasn't back then

When he got a job at the co-op, the private owners who hated the 'not for profit' got together and said he would never work in that area again

So he stayed at the co-op for 40 years...

[scotinmass 588]

Unions never bothered me as much as the company bosses.

During the miner's strikes I was in the Police Force and keeping the power stations open

I was spat on by 100 coal miners at a time, trampled by dozens of them and dragged under a semi truck - but its all part of the fun

Twenty years later I was fired by American management and that really messed my life up for a while

I will take the union stuff any time

Being told to vote R or be fired is from the 1800's. It's like going back in time

My dad was given 2 hours off on a Saturday afternoon to get married.

He was told he would be fired if he wasn't back then

When he got a job at the co-op, the private owners who hated the 'not for profit' got together and said he would never work in that area again

So he stayed at the co-op for 40 years...

The miner's strike was hell. You deserve a medal for going through that.

[Captain Oates 911]

The miner's strike was hell. You deserve a medal for going through that.

I got overtime instead. It's amazing how all the arrests took place 5 minutes before the shift was due to end...

[scotinmass 588]

I got overtime instead. It's amazing how all the arrests took place 5 minutes before the shift was due to end...

Overtime helps. You can't eat medals!

[Captain Oates 911]

Overtime helps. You can't eat medals!

Cadbury's Medals !

[Danno 1,228]

Except the Union can't fire you...

Well maybe you are right... the're just taking your money each pay check, I guess that put'em on the high road in your book.

[Captain Oates 911]

Well maybe you are right... the're just taking your money each pay check, I guess that put'em on the high road in your book.

In England, one has the option to join the Union or not. There are no closed shops now.

Even if I was in a country where there as a closed shop, I would much rather pay union dues and have them behind me, than have a vicious employer who had unlimited power to wreck my life, and the lives of my family, on a whim

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

In England, one has the option to join the Union or not. There are no closed shops now.

Even if I was in a country where there as a closed shop, I would much rather pay union dues and have them behind me, than have a vicious employer who had unlimited power to wreck my life, and the lives of my family, on a whim

Employers can come and go, but once you join a union, they pretty much own you for the rest of your life.

[Captain Oates 911]

Employers can come and go, but once you join a union, they pretty much own you for the rest of your life.

That statement is patent nonsense

I have been in three unions and they don't own you 'for the rest of your life' at all !

You can resign from the Union instantly, or change your job and not join a Union at the new workplace

It's just silly to say that a Union owns you 'for the rest of your life'

I think once a person's brain has become infested with dog-in-the-manger right wing ideas and conspiracy theories, then that infestation owns you for the rest of your life and I have never known such a person come to their senses and repent

.