Rick Curtsinger, public affairs director for the western U.S.-focused miner, told Wyoming Public Media that the buyouts – referred to as voluntary separation benefits – are being presented to eligible individuals to “manage our workforce with the least possible negative impact.”
The packages are available to hourly employees 65 years of age, or 55 with 10 years of CPE experience. The company has not detailed any other portion of the plan.
The number of workers eligible for the buyout was not disclosed.
While CPE is still solvent, other major miners in the western coalfields have filed for bankruptcy. Also, late last month, both Peabody and Arch – each within their own respective Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases – laid off more than 400 combined from two of the nation’s largest surface complexes, North Antelope Rochelle and Black Thunder.
