West Virginia Governor Delays Health Insurance Payments

— West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is facing scrutiny over his family's failure to pay over $2.4 million in health insurance contributions for employees at The Greenbrier, a historic resort owned by his family. Peter Bostic, chairperson of the Council of Labor Unions at The Greenbrier, emphasized that the delinquencies are "factual, tangible and documented," contradicting Justice's claims that payments were made regularly and that employee coverage was secure. Despite Justice's reassurances, Bostic stated that the situation remains unresolved, urging for the fulfillment of contractual obligations to ensure continued health benefits for employees. The Greenbrier was recently at risk of foreclosure due to a defaulted loan, but an agreement with a credit collection company has temporarily alleviated that threat. The Amalgamated National Health Fund has agreed to extend health insurance for union employees until the end of the month while negotiations continue. The Justice family has not contributed to the health fund for four months, with an additional $1.2 million in contributions soon due. Concerns have also been raised about deductions taken from employees' paychecks that were not transferred to the fund. Bostic reassured that union employees would not be left without insurance, highlighting the importance of job security alongside health coverage. The Greenbrier, a 710-room hotel known for hosting prestigious events, has a storied history, including a Cold War-era bunker. Justice remarked on the potential devastation that could have resulted from a foreclosure, emphasizing the critical balance between health insurance and job security for employees.