miners

At least 7,000 coal workers lost their jobs last year.

According to the proposed settlement, two main categories in this case apply under bankruptcy law.

The petition was filed by the United Mine Workers and the United Steelworkers unions.

The Milton, West Virginia-based Blackjewel, LLC, and related companies filed for Chapter 11 business reorganization Bankruptcy Protection on July 1.

Another bill moving ahead would allow state attorneys to investigate a bankrupt company’s wage or hour records.

The lockout that began July 1 has affected 1,700 workers, including nearly 600 in Wyoming.

Lawyers for Blackjewel say the coal is losing value and increasing in combustibility, meaning it could burst into flames, as it sits on the tracks.

Cloud Peak filed for bankruptcy itself in May but its Wyoming mines and its Spring Creek mine in Montana have remained open.

The company said in a release that it intends to compensate employees for time worked before the filing.

Von Flatern said he emailed every state lawmaker this year about requiring monthly payments to counties, but no one responded.