Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 5, 1990 TAG: 9006050247
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: LEBANON LENGTH: Medium
United Mine Workers President Richard Trumka and AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland were among those obstructing the entrance in support of the UMW strike against Pittston Coal.
Others arrested included United Steelworkers of America Vice President Leon Lynch, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Thomas Donahue and Transport Workers Union of America President George Leitz.
Also charged were David Chandler St. John, Arlington; Richard C. Wilson, Washington, D.C.; Kenneth Young, Silver Spring, Md., and Dennis Eugene Beal, Lebanon.
They all had been scheduled for trial March 13. At that time, their attorneys said the defendants had understood they could be tried in absentia. But General District Judge William Alexander said they would have to appear for trial, which he continued to Monday.
Alexander convicted labor leaders who did show up for trial March 12 of obstructing free passage, but said he would dismiss the charges if they chose to return Monday and had no new charges filed against them in the interim.
That group of 12 included the presidents of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; the Air Line Pilots Association; the International Union of Electrical Workers; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and the Service Employees International Union. Rounding out the list were former president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, the secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America and other AFL-CIO representatives.
Alexander dismissed all charges against both groups after each defendant told him under oath he had had no new charges filed against him since Aug. 23.
Trumka said afterward that the defendants demonstrated "a pretty interesting display of solidarity" in a manner that had not occurred for five decades.
He said that solidarity, forged during the UMW's 10-month strike against Pittston, has continued day-to-day with union leaders staying in communication. "It's brought us all together," he said.
The strike was settled Feb. 19 when UMW members in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky voted to accept the negotiated contract.
Trumka said it was still too early to tell how much the strike, which the union battled mainly with civil disobedience, will cost the UMW in legal fees. "I can't tell you that because we don't have them all in yet."
Before court convened, Russell County Sheriff Trigg Fields - who had arrested the labor demonstrators outside the courthouse Aug. 23 - got a cheery greeting from them when he entered the courtroom. "Well, we're all here again, ain't we?" Fields said, shaking hands with some of them.
"Want us to sit in here or outside?" one of them called out.
"Just sit in here," Fields quickly replied.
by CNB