Difficult times for coal industry workers

This transcript is automatically generated

We're talking about -- -- future.

Thanks.

To some.

-- EPA regulations put into effect by the Obama administration.

It's been tough to be in the coal business.

Tournament now from West Virginia three men who have spent their entire adult lives in the mines from left to right big -- he's an electrical Foreman.

Also Joshua Nelson and his dad mark.

Both are -- mark was laid off two months ago.

And gentlemen welcome to our show today right.

Okay John.

-- You you come from a long line of coal mining families.

-- just talk about how the coal mining industry and your jobs have been affected.

In this recent Obama administration.

Absolutely governor I I graduated from liberty university and with the -- job market the way it was.

-- went back home like you know dad -- great granddaddy to go to work in the minds to.

You know take care some of that -- said how wife and a one year old is now working on to -- -- We're very worried about it there was before all this started to happen there were probably 4000 people or so.

Employed an album kind but we're from in the coal industry or directly related to the coal industry.

And when all the you know talk to layoffs and what have you started to happen obviously everybody's really -- We've had a lot of involvement we've had people get more involved in the -- governmental process.

That -- ever had that's actually -- I got my hat in the race for local level politics in West Virginia legislature but.

It's it's taken a huge hit.

Obviously it makes it difficult for families -- -- whether -- gonna compound puts a strain.

On our families and it's affect our entire committee governor.

Mark you are Josh is dead and you've been in the coal mine business for all of your life two months ago you got laid off from that job.

What are the prospects responding something else to do there.

I'm not the applications and you know they're aware of the -- Not getting any results -- -- -- those -- operator.

Or for a lot of it out mobile equipment operator you know there's everybody's well.

Trying to find a job.

It just keeps getting worse and worse.

Than it really -- obviously the essence right now there's no.

You know that that's such a sad thing -- mean we have a president who said that he was running to give us hope.

And it was gonna bring change and and what you just said is is is it touches all of us and no hole.

Junior community in your whole world is built around coal mining.

Vic let me bring you into this as an electrical.

Foreman at a local mine.

Some -- impacted you but your son and daughter in law his family have had to move in with you just to be able to make ends meet.

Let's talk about how this is impacted your.

Outlook as you look toward your future and that of your family.

What what's your thoughts.

While governor.

A solid young Miami -- He's 22 years old now they start in the coal industry about two and a half years ago and just it just a year ago he was young man feel with hope and then.

Prospects for future and his wife were looking for -- -- in Landon.

Just plan for its future right these children and now -- like you -- -- may have been able Ferris.

He's just been decimated by the yesterday if it does direct result on the Obama's war on -- -- It just right smartest thing coming any it.

Just humiliated he's put in stable job applications they can't file marking.

-- -- yards way dated worked on people's vehicles just to try to survive and finally he just.

It just does it they still looking for work and they still -- one of -- -- -- find a job it but it's been tough it's been.

I think the young man would just just a year ago.

Full of -- -- he's -- they're want to rev Thomas put -- really -- on his relationship with his wife and it's it's meant it's been tough on -- I think that's the side this is sometimes people need to understand not just economics it's it's the human touch wives being.

Forever affected.

Joshua people in coal -- work very very hard it's hard work -- -- out of work.

But it's also worked -- pays pretty well and people it's not just a job it's a way of life for so many people in West Virginia.

Every time I'd been there people can talk about the generations of folks have been in the minds.

Why do you think that this administration has put such a target.

On the coal industry what is it about the coal industry.

That upsets this administration and the president so much.

Well you know it's it's a lot of people governor and they have this you know on sound science that.

He'll come up with -- not proven.

That coal is you know cause most damage the environment is that there's a proven fact -- -- Cole is you know a major factor in our country's economy.

Life expectancy goes up in -- People forget the fact that these in our military technology.

Electronics that are be empowered that are you know are nursing homes where our grandparents and her last days.

A lot that's how about -- like he's in a lot of what -- America it put us through two world wars and a one vote Dublin because -- call.

And you know I just a little fat -- -- The rest of the miners in West Virginia and one called item one day can dig enough -- out of the mind.

That equals more -- you know more electricity when when time -- -- to electricity and every single solar panel and when millions are -- not assays combines.

That's a lot of.

Mark one final question you.

You are a union.

Coal -- a lot of folks in West Virginia are unions typically -- Democrat is that gonna happen this time in West Virginia.

Notes are by no means we can't we can't endorse somebody -- trying to protect our lives who are -- what it's just a moment it will not happen.

Well gentlemen I want to thank all of you it's it's -- pleasure to visit with you and I I hope things turn around for your industry because.

It not only affects you and your family it affects the rest of us all of America depends upon having.

Our own domestic resources.

And Cole is a very big part of that.

And for you to be targeted is really to target every one of us are utility bills are way of life.

And I appreciate your sharing the human side of your story here today thank you so much.

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