Union rep says West Virginia governor late on paying worker health insurance bills, despite denials

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family is millions of dollars behind on payments to employees’ health insurance fund at their financially beleaguered hotel, putting workers’ coverage at risk despite the U.S. Senate candidate’s claims otherwise, a union official said Friday.

“The delinquencies are factual, tangible and documented,” Peter Bostic, chairperson of the Council of Labor Unions at The Greenbrier, the historic resort owned by Justice’s family.

Justice on Thursday dismissed concerns about at least $2.4 million in delinquent payments to insurance provider during a briefing with press, saying payments had been made “on a regular basis” and that there was “no way” employees would lose coverage.

But on Friday, Bostic said the situation is in no way resolved.

“We continue to demand that The Greenbriers’ delinquent contractional obligations be met and remain hopeful that an agreement will be reached between the ANHF and The Greenbrier to continue benefits into the future,” he said in a statement.

Justice’s remarks came the same day the Republican’s family announced it had reached an agreement with a credit collection company to prevent The Greenbrier hotel, which has hosted presidents, royalty and congressional retreats, from being foreclosed on due to unpaid debts. The Greenbrier was scheduled to go to the auction block August 27, after Beltway Capital declared a longstanding Justice hotel loan to be in default after purchasing it in July from JPMorgan Chase.

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