Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 19, 1990 TAG: 9004190488
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: ABINGDON LENGTH: Medium
A judge put Roberts on unsupervised probation for just 30 days, less than the six-month probationary periods meted out to hundreds of other UMW supporters who defied court injunctions by sitting in roads to block Pittston trucks.
Roberts admitted some surprise at the lighter sentence. "I think it's probably because the strike is now over, people are back at work," he said. "We never did have any animosity toward the courts."
He entered a no-contest plea to the criminal contempt charge and purged himself, UMW International Representative John Cox and the union of contempt by the statement he made to Senior U.S. Western District Judge Glen Williams after the sentencing.
"Throughout this strike, it was never our intention or the union's intention to show disrespect for this court. Rather, our activities were intended to make a peaceful statement of principle . . . Our primary concern throughout the strike was to achieve, through peaceful means, social justice for the workers, their families, retirees, widows and disabled miners whom we represent," he said.
Although associate UMW counsel Judy Scott had offered to read the statement that she had helped Roberts and Cox draft, Roberts wanted to present it himself.
"We understand that this court has an obligation to uphold the laws of this land. We also understand that, in recognition of this obligation, this court issued various orders throughout this strike," Roberts said.
"John Cox and I, as well as the union I represent, sincerely regret any conflict which our actions created with the responsibilities of this court. The union membership, under the UMWA officers' direction and with John's and my personal participation, has undertaken 10,000 hours of community service as a sign of respect for this court and as a contribution to the healing process in the communities covered by the court's orders."
Williams had reduced the fines he imposed on the union to $280,000 and ordered 10,000 hours of community service in a Feb. 14 decision. Scott said Wednesday that the union was still considering an appeal of the fine, but would carry out the community service work "no matter what."
The work has already started. Last Friday, Williams joined Roberts and other UMW members in one of the projects, clearing brush from the Powell River in Lee County. Williams spoke of Roberts' telephone call to him Jan. 1 reporting a tentative negotiated settlement and said he told Roberts at that time "how much I respected his leadership."
Williams said he described Roberts to William Usery, the mediator in talks leading to the agreement ratified by the union Feb. 19, as a religious, patriotic and charismatic man and "a great leader."
Roberts returned the compliments Wednesday when he commended Williams for bringing the two sides back together July 18 in Duffield after negotiations had broken off, and working toward face-to-face the negotiations that occurred during Usery's mediation.
"We do not feel this positive outcome would have been possible without the direct involvement of this court in bringing the parties together for collective bargaining at a time our differences seemed insurmountable. And for that sensitive intervention, we want to express our sincere appreciation," Roberts said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kilgore gave Roberts a souvenir after the hearing - a photograph showing Roberts and other UMW supporters sitting in the road July 25 leading to Pittston's Moss No. 3 coal preparation plant in Russell County. That was the sit-in demonstration leading to Roberts' arrest.
Later, Roberts told reporters that he went along with the statement by civil rights leader Martin Luther King that those disobeying laws through civil disobedience should be prepared for jail, or they would simply be anarchists.
"We're certainly not that," Roberts said. "We just did what we had to do to win the strike. . . . I'm pleased that we had this experience. I'm regretful that we had to challenge the courts to do that."
The union is still facing fines totaling $64.3 million in Russell County Circuit Court. Roberts said he hoped those fines would be reduced.
Other planned community service by the union includes work on Little League ball fields at Clintwood and Damascus and a community and youth center at Cleveland; a beautification project at Clinchco; assistance to senior citizens; and work on low-income housing projects.
Although Roberts wore a dark suit and maroon tie instead of the camouflage clothing adopted as a symbol by the union that he wore in previous court appearances, Cox still retained a camouflage tie Wednesday.
"Why the tie? I just like the tie. We've got a celebration coming up and it's kind of symbolic," he said. The union has scheduled a strike-settlement celebration at the Wise County Fairgrounds for Saturday and Sunday.
by CNB