
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 22, 1993                   TAG: 9308220047
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VANSANT                                LENGTH: Medium

BOSSES TO DO `MAINTENANCE' MINING

Mine supervisors will do some mining at the Virginia Pocahontas No. 3 mine, but officials don't plan to resume full production at southwestern Virginia mines in the near future.

Union miners on strike at the No. 3 mine said they have been working 10-hour shifts on the picket line in anticipation of the company's resuming production.

"We've been told [this] week the bosses or replacement workers are going to start running coal," said Douglas Owens, who has worked at the mine for 18 years. "I know the company has to do what they have to do, but we've got a position to hold, too."

CONSOL Inc. spokesman Tom Hoffman said Friday the company has no plans to resume full-scale production.

The mine has been idle since midnight July 12, when at least 800 miners at three Buchanan County CONSOL operations walked out.

But operators must do some mining to protect idle equipment and the mine, Hoffman said.

"We do mine the coal and ship it, but what we're really doing is mining far enough to re-establish the integrity of the mine," he said.

The mining will be finished in a few days, Hoffman said. Mine supervisors will perform the work, and no replacement workers will be involved, he said.

"It's not an attempt to start up the mine or an attempt to break the strike," Hoffman said. "It's necessary to protect the equipment."

"We are mining at a few sites with supervisors, and we don't rule out doing that anywhere in the country," he said.

Talks began Aug. 11 between the United Mine Workers and members of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association for the first time since May 3. A federal mediator announced Friday that negotiations should begin in earnest early next week in Washington.

The union is waging a selective strike against BCOA companies involving 17,000 miners in seven states.

It says the strike is an effort to attain job security and job opportunity for its members. The BCOA contends the union wants to increase its membership.

UMW President Richard Trumka will visit the Virginia strike lines for the first time during Labor Day weekend. Trumka is set to take part in a rally Sept. 3 at Garden Creek High School.

by CNB