Alpha Natural Resources, one of the largest U.S. coal companies, wants to drop benefits for more than 4,500 miners, spouses and their dependants, Reuters reported yesterday. That step would erase roughly $125 million in obligations for the Virginia-based company as it tries to mollify creditors stung by the company's bankruptcy filing in August, according to court filings. But the move would also erase life insurance and health benefits for about 4,580 non-union retirees, disabled former workers and their families, the company said in its filing with a bankruptcy court in Richmond. The company has asked permission to drop benefits such as "hospital, medical, prescription, surgical and life insurance" at the end of December, according to a court filing that was lodged on Tuesday.
