Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, December 17, 1993 TAG: 9312170114
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A21 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GRANVILLE, W.VA. LENGTH: Short
"It will be hard because the bosses did our jobs while we were out here standing on the picket line," said Bob Tennant, 39, of Morgantown as he entered CONSOL Inc.'s Arkwright Preparation Plant on Wednesday night.
The United Mine Workers union Tuesday ratified a five-year contract with the Bituminous Coal Operators Association, sending 17,500 miners back to work in West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The union won its key demand, a guaranteed share of any future jobs when current mines are played out in the next few years. The UMW had accused the coal companies of robbing union miners of jobs by creating nonunion subsidiaries.
UMW President Richard Trumka said about 95 percent of the miners returned to their jobs Thursday.
The 800 striking miners in Virginia returned to work Wednesday at three CONSOL Inc. mines in Buchanan County.
"I think people have been out so long that they wanted to get back to work," said Donnie Farmer, recording secretary of UMW Local 2232 in Buchanan County. "They were afraid if they didn't approve the contract it would be a long time before they got another one."
by CNB