http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ALPHA_LAYOFFS_VAOL-?SITE=VADAR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT<br><br><span class="entry-content"><p class="ap-story-p"> MORGANTOWN, W.Va.
(AP) -- Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources said Tuesday it was
cutting production by 16 million tons and eliminating 1,200 jobs
companywide, laying off 400 workers immediately by closing mines in
Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.</p> <p class="ap-story-p">The
mine shutdowns start Tuesday, while the rest of the layoffs will be
completed by the end of the first quarter after Alpha fulfills current
sales obligations, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Crutchfield said. In
all, the layoffs amount to nearly a tenth of Alpha's 13,000-person
workforce.</p> <p class="ap-story-p">Alpha said it was closing four
mines in West Virginia, three in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania. They
are a mix of deep and surface mines, and all are non-union operations.</p></span>
(AP) -- Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources said Tuesday it was
cutting production by 16 million tons and eliminating 1,200 jobs
companywide, laying off 400 workers immediately by closing mines in
Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.</p> <p class="ap-story-p">The
mine shutdowns start Tuesday, while the rest of the layoffs will be
completed by the end of the first quarter after Alpha fulfills current
sales obligations, Chief Executive Officer Kevin Crutchfield said. In
all, the layoffs amount to nearly a tenth of Alpha's 13,000-person
workforce.</p> <p class="ap-story-p">Alpha said it was closing four
mines in West Virginia, three in Virginia and one in Pennsylvania. They
are a mix of deep and surface mines, and all are non-union operations.</p></span>