Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 8, 1993 TAG: 9305080292
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA. LENGTH: Medium
The action came as the union threatened a second strike and miners worked their fourth day without a contract.
Eastern Associated Coal Co. said the 41-employee Robin Hood No. 9 mine in Boone County would close in early July. All employees will be laid off, officials said.
Three other West Virginia mines will lose 169 workers, said Terry Whitt, spokesman for Charleston-based Eastern Associated.
He said affected employees would be notified beginning today at Federal No. 2 Mine in Monongalia County, Montcoal No. 7 Mine in Raleigh County and Harris No. 1 Mine in Boone County.
In addition, about 60 management employees at Eastern Associated will be laid off later this month, Whitt said.
"The timing is terrible, but when is there a good time to tell someone that their mine is closed or they're going to get laid off?" Whitt said.
The company blamed the layoffs on lower coal prices caused by foreign and domestic competition. Layoffs will be carried out on the basis of seniority, Whitt said.
He predicted the layoffs would not affect contract negotiations.
UMW spokesman Jim Grossfeld in Washington, D.C., said he had not heard about the layoffs. He said that the union has repeatedly stressed its commitment to job security for members.
"Today, coal miners in West Virginia and across the coalfield states are facing a threat as never before as the reward for their productivity becomes an unemployment check," Grossfeld said.
"Our message to the coal industry has been very consistent: Our members have earned the right to jobs in the future," he said.
Eastern Associated is a subsidiary of Peabody Holding Co., the nation's largest coal producer. The UMW struck Peabody subsidiaries in February after contract talks broke down.
The union said it was worried about the proliferation of operators' nonunion subsidiaries, a practice called "double-breasting."
After a monthlong strike, the union and the Bituminous Coal Operators Association agreed to a 60-day contract extension. Miners returned to work March 3.
The operators association represents the nation's 12 largest coal producers.
Talks broke off Monday night an hour before the extension expired. Bargainers say they have not met since.
Each side has said the other is responsible for resuming talks.
UMW officials have said this week that a strike is imminent. They would not reveal what companies are targeted. The last industrywide strike was in 1981.
Thomas Hoffman, spokesman for the operators' negotiating committee, said Eastern Associated was "simply exercising pertinent business judgment" in its layoff notice.
"We understand each company has to try and run their business in the most efficient way possible. Unfortunately, there's not as great a demand for coal right now as we'd wish there was," Hoffman said Friday.
Hoffman, who also is vice president for public relations at CONSOL Inc. in Upper St. Clair, Pa., said he hoped the move does not affect negotiations.
Bob Phalen, president of UMW District 17 which represents miners in that part of the state, did not return a telephone message Friday.
by CNB