Associated Press
Murray Energy CEO, Robert Murray
In the month leading up to the election, quite a few business leaders used heavy-handed campaign tactics, pressuring their employees to support Mitt Romney, apparently at the candidate's behest. None, however, went as far as Robert Murray.
Murray, of course, is a coal-industry leader whose mines (and workers) were used as campaign props, and who stands accused of forcing his employees to make Republican campaign contributions.
Last week, not surprisingly, the Republican donor was not at all pleased with the elections results, and he decided to respond to President Obama's success by laying off over 150 workers.
Robert E. Murray read a prayer to a group of company staff members on the day after the election, lamenting the direction of the country and asking: "Lord, please forgive me and anyone with me in Murray Energy Corp. for the decisions that we are now forced to make to preserve the very existence of any of the enterprises that you have helped us build."
On Wednesday, Murray also laid off 54 people at American Coal, one of his subsidiary companies, and 102 at Utah American Energy, blaming a "war on coal" by the Obama administration.
Murray Energy is the country's largest privately owned coal mining company, with about 3,000 employees producing about 30 million tons of bituminous coal a year, according to its Web site.
It's rare to see anyone in business be quite this spiteful for purely partisan reasons. As Dave Weigel noted, "There was no need for [Murray] to sack these people so quickly. There was no guarantee that he'd be dramatically more profitable in, say, March 2013. But he fired them, because he's basically amoral."
For the record, most of the high-profile business leaders who threatened their employees with post-election layoffs have not followed through, at least not yet.
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Well, We have Murray pulling this crap, CEO of Papa John's reducing hours on People to avoid Benefit's, Rite-Hite here in WI not sure what they are going to do, Their CEO spoke out just before the Electon, now not sure what he is going to do. My view is they simply didn't get what they wanted (Romney) and they are just doing this for spite. Now. I am not a Buisnessman, But if you are able to keep the same Insurance, and as a I understand it, get subsidies or shop and get a cheaper Plan, Then WTF, If I'm correct, Then this is nothing more than retaliation for Pres. Obama get re-elected. Because I also see that Buisness's where hoping for Romney, Then they could continue the SAME BS, but probably even worse. The ramped up effort against Worker's is really coming into the spotlight, But WE all can fight this Together
My gut feeling is Mr Murray was laying off these folks no matter who won. It's just now he can blame it on the President
I seem to recall conservative outrage years over union dues that were being used to support Democratic candidates. Okay. But where is the outrage over guys like this who are basically using extortion to scare people into supporting Republicans? I don't hear any. In fact, some Republicans are - incredibly - blaming Democrats for this guy's attacks on workers.
The History Channel is doing a series: "The Men Who Built America"
Last night's episode, describing the treatment of workers, and the wage gap, is very much like what we are exeriencing now.
They (Carnegie, Rockefeller) went after the Democratic Presidential candidate, William Jennings Bryan, who vowed to bring big business in line, using the same tactics the Republicans used on President Obama. Bryan was never elected, but the parallels are very similiar.
Workers were threatened to vote for McKinley or face losing their jobs. Back then, a foreman would know who you voted for, because the polls were separated by party. They just stood there and watched what line you went into.
Who says History never repeats.
I arrived at work the morning after the election and my supervisor said a guy in town said that if Obama was re-elected he would fire six of his employees. The next morning my co-worker was doing dictation for the owner and on the end of the tape it said "Since Obama was re-elected I want you to cut your work week down to three days". We are a small office of six and I would be shocked if the owner made more than $150k let alone $250k.
I think stuff like this should put paid to the notion that businessmen are inherently smart.
Or that businessmen are inherently practical and rational.
But, on the other hand, I guess now we know that there are people who are willing to "go Galt" for real. So nobody has blown up any buildings (yet) over the election, but any business that cuts back on the workforce or reduces hours just because the boss didn't get his way is kind of similar. The motivation is basically the same, at least, and could harm the business if it means no longer being able to meet demand.
"Going Galt" is not practical or rational. It's insanely childish. Mr Murray needs a nap.
Maria, think of all the people YOU can now hire. You have such self important views, you can take care of all the people we "Galt" people fire right?
You Galt people need to grow up. Maybe you should take a que from another man named John. John Doone and his 17th meditation.
http://www.online-literature.com/donne/409/
I'm not self important. You are. If you think you can do anything all by your lonesome. BTWI have nothing against business. I do have a problem with irresponsibility and bad business plans.
Your primary goal should be to find another job. Your health and self esteem will suffer if you don't
There are many ways employees can get even. Let the fun begin.
Al
If you are talking to me I have a job that I have had for over 18 years and Like it very much thank you.
No problem. I will boycott the twirp. As far as I am concerned he is laid off. He is costing America and our way of life too much.
Solar and Wind. You can't run out of it and you can retire these guys.
What happens when the wind isn't blowing and it is nighttime? I bet you'll want your coal fired plant then
You do realise that both wind and solar power retain power even when the wind sun isn't at optimal?
http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/solar-wind-trivia.php
Maria,
I hate to stop a liberal from sounding stupid when on a mission, but you could not be more wrong about solar or wind power "retaining" power when not optimum. First, optimum is a word used by Obama to discribe 4 deaths at a consulate in Libya. It wasn't too bright by him, and your use does you no favors either. Second, my statement did not refer to "optimal" conditions. My statement simply says when the wind is not blowing (not lightly blowing) and the sun is not shining (meaning nights), turbines do not turn, and solar does not collect. Third, energy can not be stored without use of batteries. In order to collect enough energy and store it for downtime use, across the country would be so ridiculously expensive and inefficient AND harmful to the environment, no one would dare make a study to to even look into it.
I know you Libs just love to pretend like you are informed, but do yourself a favor, do a little homework before you make comments. You won't sound so stupid then.
Bob
What does Libya have to do with this? Red Herring. Bob solar panels do retain power. You're just have no idea what you're talking about. It's like saying a battery does not have power unless it's turned on. If solar and wind power is as dangerous and harmful as you say then why has no conservative think tank done a study to prove it so? Oh yes no one would dare to. That just nonsense.
As to homework... I work in a research library Bob. I have been paid to do research so I know how to do my homework. You just sound like a fossil fuel talking point. You are a silly man.
Energy CAN NOT be stored (other than in a battery). A solar panel does NOT store energy. It generates energy and then it it transmitted through wiring. If the energy is not used immediately, it disapates. In fact, energy is lost through the transmission lines while it is being moved along the grid. So, at night, solare panels are not working, nor are they storing any energy.
The barm to the environment would be in order to store enough energy to be used at night, massive battery installations would need to be used. Batteries lose their ability to store energy over a relatively short period of time (think car batteries, flashlight, radio batteries). Once a battery loses its ability to store energy, it must be replaced. The old battery must be disposed of. Battery disposal is considered hazardous waste. It requires special handling because it is hazardous to the environment. Battery disposal on the scale required to operate the grid at night, would be mountainous.
If you actually do work in research, try researching the subject. Or if you have no idea what to look for, try googling "storing electricity".. or storing solar powered electricity.
If you did research then maybe you would know that people who have had soloar panels on their hoime sell excess energy back to the grid and have so for years. I hope Businessweek is a reliable source for you.
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2006-07-05/selling-power-back-to-the-grid
The boycott idea is for the pizza places doing the same thing because they don't want to give their employees healthcare. Do boycott them. Find employers that care about their customers and employees and reward them with your business. Some people have ceased to run a business and turned it into a place for them to have tantrums. Unfortunately society and their employees have come to trust them and depend on them. This is an example of someone who has forgotten there is more in business than just money.
We still want to love you gramps but you are being a jerk. Wake up.
Murray is directly responsible for the deaths of nine men--six miners and three rescuers--after a cave-in at the Crandall Canyon mine in Utah in 2007. Despite warnings that it was an unsafe, Murray insisted that the pillars that held up the roof be shaved down, causing a collapse that trapped six miners. When rescuers went to try to get them, another collapse trapped three of them. All nine died. Murray claimed it was an "earthquake," not his unsafe mining practices.
A bunch of mindless themes here.....Democrats....do SOMETHING....for a change!
F--k him. Restart the wind tax credits and let those skilled workers use their abilities above ground in the fresh air. Ohio has lots of potential for wind projects.
More will come to do this down-sizing. It's HIS company that he built! None of us have (or should have) any say in his decision.
Most all of you have a negative opinion about this man personally. Why?
The choice WAS yours to prevent on November 6th.
Guess you can lead a mule to the water AND make him drink it.
Mike
Murray doesn't live or create his business in a vacuum. He is not personally mininghis own coal. So to say he solely built his business is ridiculous. He has a customer base to think of. People don't have to buy from a man who so obviously puts his petty politics before his business. At least I wouldn't buy from him.
People have negative view of Murray because he is an immature jerk who has a very over glorified view of himself. If anything far worse was prevented on November 6 2012.
And BTW it's you can't lead a horse to water... and make him drink your Koolaid. Can't you even get your mixed metaphors correct?
Actually.. it's "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"...
maria...
So, you're just another one to personally attack me for making a post. Feel proud?You've further reinforced my belief that most dems are mean, simple-minded, way gullible, and childish.
If you really believe Mr. Murray didn't build his business, then lets think about it.
1. Murray Energy, ROBERT MURRAY, OWNER and CHIEF OFFICER.
You're right, he is not mining his own coal, BUT, he is managing the operation, managing the financing, managing the sales process, and managing his employees. So, what happens if we remove Mr. Murray from the equation before Murray Energy was even in existence? See, it's not that hard to grasp!
About your insult of him "he is an immature jerk", I don't know him personally, and am most convinced you don't either. So, who's really being an immature jerk here?
About your claim that "If anything far worse was prevented on November 6 2012." As time will show you, if you're wise enough to realize it, more businesses will be downsizing to offset added costs to be incurred due to Obamas policies.
And BTW, this is the fun part of replying to your ridiculous statements. My metaphor was not mixed... It was precisely what I meant. Explained: You and other gullible dems can be led to a pool of tainted waters, and persuaded to drink and believe.
You were foolish to attack someone as if you are someone!
So Mike you are stating I can't reply to you because I am a nobody? Really? I don't matter because I don't own a business? Wow they are a lot more people who don't own businessesthan those who do. So all those people don't matter as well? And for the record. My family (including me) have owned businesses in the past. Ranches, Savings & Loans development companies etc. Just because I may have a Liberal view doesn't mean I don't understand business. I just don't like people in business who give business people a bad name.
Murray has a record as a bad businessman who does not take care of his companies. He is abusive. He causes harm to come to his employees. It's not about profit. It's about accountability and responsibility. Murray has failed in both respects. Business people should not behave as if they were John D. Rockefelller or Henry Frick.
I don't own a company now because I realized there were more important things in the world than making huge piles of money.
Maria...
Of course you can reply to my post. But as you can tell, if you choose to be disrespectful and rude to me, you will get that plus some in return. On the other hand, if you choose to be civil and not rude to me, I will also give that back plus more.
Perhaps, instead, I should have said, "You were foolish to attack someone (me) as if you are someone better."
We can leave it at that, and agree to disagree.
Mike
If you thought I was rude to you it was entirely unintentional. I apologise if I came off that way. I am not a rude person by nature
Okay we agree to disagree. Digital handshake?
Murray Energy is the country's largest privately owned coal mining company, with about 3,000 employees producing about 30 million tons of bituminous coal a year, according to its Web site...Revenue: US $600 million. ‣ Web: www.ohiovalleycoal.com ...
disgraceful, greedy bastard...........Any and ALL who do this are to be BOYCOTTED.
I've read all the posts here. I can see that very few, if any of you, actually know what it is like to run a business and what is involved. I own a company with 62 employees in CA. I offer a healthcare plan to all my employees currently. However, effective January of 2013 any company with more than 50 employees MUST offer the "Obamacare" minimum package. This will raise my company's insurance premiums by about $80,000 a year. Between tax rates increasing, healthcare cost rising and the cost of fuel (we are in the construction industry and are on jobsites every day)) It will make my company financially insolvent. In order to protect my company I now must lay off at least 13 employees. Good employees. Employees that have done nothing wrong. They've done a great job for the company. Their reward is to be fired. Additionally, the company will now no longer be in a financial position to offer the remaining 49 employees any coverage either. You say we are greedy business folks. We aren't. We are surviving.
Tell me how this healthcare plan is good for my company, my employees and my customers? I don't see it.
Bob-
I too am a businessman. Much appreciation to you for your post on this forum. However, you may very well find that many on here are not understanding to the challenges in operating a business, and can be brutal towards anyone that attempts to question their choice of President.
Good luck to you, and good luck with your business.
Unfortunately people like this, especially when they have a little power, are never satisfied until they are recognized as powerful. This little man will gouge his own eye out and then complain that "I can't see" and still have the gaul to to blame someone else for his condition.
Murray is a sociapath poster child of many 1 percenters. How does punishing the very people that work for your benefit make any sense to a sane person?