West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's family is reportedly $2.4 million behind on health insurance payments for employees at The Greenbrier hotel, raising concerns among union representatives. Union official Peter Bostic has claimed that these delinquencies are well-documented, despite Justice's denials that there are any issues with payment regularity. The situation has escalated to the point where an auction for The Greenbrier was scheduled for August 27, 2024, due to these unpaid debts. However, this auction was canceled following an agreement with a credit collection company. Justice's family has not contributed to the health fund for the past four months, and an additional $1.2 million is due soon. Governor Justice has stated that he restored employee benefits after purchasing the hotel in 2009 and is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat against Democrat Glenn Elliott.
In a separate but related issue, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) has reported ongoing problems with prescription drug coverage for retirees of Justice's coal companies. The UMWA filed a court document indicating that it is collaborating with Justice's Bluestone Coal Corp. to address unpaid medical bills incurred by retirees. The union has requested the court to extend a stay on its motion to hold Bluestone and four other Justice family-controlled coal firms in contempt for failing to comply with a 2021 order to provide uninterrupted healthcare and prescription drug coverage. The UMWA has previously indicated that intermittent lapses in prescription drug coverage have affected 250 to 300 recipients. Bluestone Coal has attributed these coverage issues to faulty records transfer and is working to resolve the remaining problems. The UMWA has reported a breakdown in communication with Bluestone and is awaiting a response to resolve the failure to enroll a UMWA pensioner with the required years of service for healthcare. The union has indicated that they would renew their motion for contempt if the companies fail to comply with the court order.
In light of these developments, Justice's business dealings and personal finances are under increasing scrutiny, with legal liabilities mounting across his enterprises. The UMWA has previously withdrawn a motion for contempt against the companies but has signaled readiness to renew it if compliance is not achieved. The ongoing issues with health insurance payments and prescription drug coverage have coincided with Justice's political ambitions as he seeks a Senate seat, further complicating his public image as he navigates these financial challenges. [b8b1b619][5987a799]