Mining Case Could Clarify Worker Rights Interference Standard

Mining companies may soon have an answer to a more than 40-year old question on what actions amount to inteference with their workers’ rights.

A group of Murray Energy Corp. subsidiaries want the U.S. Court of Appeals for District of Columbia Circuit to determine if Murray Energy CEO Robert E. Murray interfered with workers’ rights to report safety hazards when he told workers that they must inform their company of a safety hazard if they bring a safety-related complaint to the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

Depending on how the court rules, miners could more easily bring interference claims ...