SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
August 13, 1996
ASHLAND COAL, INC.
(Exact name or registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 1-9993 61-0880012
(State or other (Commission file number) (I.R.S.Employer
jurisdiction of Identification No.)
incorporation or
organization)
2205 FIFTH STREET ROAD, HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25701
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
P.O. BOX 6300, HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25771
(Mailing Address) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (304)526-3333
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Item 5. Other Events.
On August 13, 1996, the National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) ruled that the employees of Mingo Logan Coal Company, an
operating subsidiary of Ashland Coal, may not be grouped with the
employees of two of Mingo Logan's contractors to create a single
bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining at Mingo
Logan's Mountaineer Mine. An earlier decision by an acting
regional NLRB director had ruled that employees of Mingo Logan and
these two contractors were a single bargaining unit and as a
result, these employees voted together in a January 1995 election
to determine whether or not they were to be represented by the
United Mine Workers of America (UMWA). As a consequence of the
NLRB ruling, the election was vacated and the ballots from the 1995
election, which were impounded by the NLRB and have remained
sealed, will never be counted. The NLRB additionally ruled that
there are three separate bargaining units at Mingo Logan's
Mountaineer Mine, one consisting of Mingo Logan's employees, and
that any future UMWA representation election depends upon an
adequate showing of interest in having such election by each unit.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
ASHLAND COAL, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Roy F. Layman
Administrative Vice
President-Law and Human
Resources
Date: August 16, 1996
