Published: May 01, 2008 09:46 pm            

Coal boom allows Alpha to share the wealth

CUCUMBER — With metallurgical coal spot market prices surging near the $200 per ton mark, underground coal mine jobs pushing the six-figure envelope and a world starving for energy, suddenly, coal is no longer a dirty word.

Mike Quillen chairman and chief executive officer of Abingdon, Va., based Alpha National Resources Inc., made the rounds to several of the company’s coal mines to announce a five-pronged “share the wealth” program aimed at retaining the good, experienced coal miners the company culled when times weren’t as good ... like six years ago when Alpha was born.

“It’s the people side of this business that makes it successful,” Quillen, 59, said to the combined day shift/evening shift coal miners at the Brooks Run Mining’s Cucumber Mine. The mine employs about 125 coal miners, mostly experienced and all focused on their work.

They applauded Quillen after he finished distributing the packets that described the 25 shares of company stock they received in the package; the retention bonus plan that kicks in after six months; the company picking up the employee share of health, dental and eye care; a $30 monthly fuel assistance payment; and a generous cash incentive program for mine rescue teams.

Quillen, a Gate City, Va., native, talked about his 6 a.m., stop earlier that day where he met with coal miners he worked with 30 years earlier. He spoke of visiting Brooks Run Coal miners at Litwar where the first six coal miners he met were named “Justice,” and of the smiles he had seen throughout the day. “We want you to be part owners of this company,” Quillen said of stock the employees received.

The coal miners didn’t desert the shop when Quillen exited the room and grabbed a barbecue sandwich for the helicopter flight to his next stop. The day shift didn’t run to their cars and the evening shift coal miners remained seated as Cheryl Stapleton reviewed some safety issues. All eyes seemed focused on Stapleton’s message.

“This is like a big family here,” Mike Matthews of Bluefield, Va., said as he stood outside the building, keeping his ear aimed in the direction of Stapleton. “Everyone looks out for each other inside and outside of the mine. I’ve never seen a company that worked with the coal miners like this company does.”

Matthews, 57, a section foreman at the Cucumber Mine, had 14 years of experience in underground coal mining, but got out of the industry for 20 years before coming back with Brooks Run Mining in 2006. He bossed at Bishop, Va., Keystone and Cannelton, and has spent his entire career working in the Pocahontas No. 3 seam.

“This block of coal is an example of how technology makes a difference in this industry,” Matthews said. “The old style (continuous) miners couldn’t get to it, but the new miners can. We work hard. We work together. It doesn’t feel like coming to work here. It’s an exemplary company.”

Ed Rudder, superintendent of the Cucumber Mine said the new load out facility in Cucumber can load three 100-car coal trains per week. “We have some really good people here,” Rudder, a Coeburn, Va., resident said. “We have coal miners from Bluefield, Tazewell, Princeton and from as far away as Beckley. I think this package will be a good incentive for the guys.”

Alpha stated in a press release that the incentive package costs more than $13 million in the first year alone. Alpha has more than 3,600 employees at 58 mine sites in four states. The Cucumber Mine started producing coal in February, 2003, and produces 3.25 million tons per year.

– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com

        

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