Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 7, 1991 TAG: 9104070176
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Negotiations were slated to begin today. The Food and Beverage Workers union canceled a march and demonstration planned for Saturday after talks were announced.
"We are at this time postponing our non-violent civil disobedience . . . in a good-faith belief that Colonial Williamsburg is now serious about negotiating to meet the needs of their employees," Minor W. Christian, president of Local 32, said in a prepared statement Friday.
Colonial Williamsburg spokesman Norm Beatty called the union's move to cancel the demonstration a "sensible decision."
"It shows they are serious about the intention to negotiate. The bargaining table is where our differences should be ironed out, not on the streets of Williamsburg," he said.
Minor said last week that union workers had received training in civil disobedience techniques as the next step in the union's campaign to publicize the dispute.
Last month, 1,200 people, including a large number of union members from as far away as Connecticut, marched down the main street of the historic area.
Last week, union members and supporters picketed the home of Colonial Williamsburg President Charles Longsworth. The union also has been distributing leaflets at the Virginia Tourist Bureau office in Washington and has been urging conventions and tour groups to cancel visits to the area. Two groups have canceled because of the union's efforts, according to Colonial Williamsburg officials.
The session will be the first bargaining meeting between the union and the historic attraction's management since December.
The 1,100 hotel and restaurant workers represented by the Food and Beverage Workers Union have been working at Colonial Williamsburg's motels, hotels and restaurants without a contract since Jan. 1.
The union rejected the company's last offer in December. Since then, the union has been staging informational pickets and called on groups to boycott the re-created 18th century village.
Minor said the union has submitted a proposal agreeing to the foundation's positions in 21 areas and modified its position in seven others, including wages, health care and educational benefits.
by CNB