Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 8, 1993 TAG: 9306080145
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The move by Amax follows a May 25 announcement that Amax will merge with Cyprus Minerals Co. to form Cyprus-Amax Co. The new company will be the second-largest U.S. coal producer and the nation's second-largest copper mining concern.
Indianapolis-based Amax, formerly the third-largest U.S. coal producer, told the BCOA that it will leave the group immediately, and would continue negotiations on an independent basis with Cyprus Minerals Co. Amax employs 1,700 union miners. Cyprus' current contract with the UMW expires July 1.
Traditionally, the BCOA has negotiated the union contract, which then is also signed by many smaller coal operators in so-called "me too" agreements.
B.R. "Bobby" Brown, chief negotiator for the BCOA, called the Amax decision a "regrettable consequence" of the merger. But he added that it nevertheless "raises serious legal issues, including the legality of withdrawing from multi-employer bargaining."
Brown, who is also chairman and chief executive of Consol Inc., said the issue would be reviewed before further comment.
The union said that more than 400 striking UMW miners had returned to their jobs Monday at Amax's Wabash coal mine in southern Illinois.
Richard Trumka, UMW president, said negotiations between the union and Cyprus "have been continuing and constructive."
Trumka added that Amax agreed to sign an interim agreement binding the company to any newly negotiated BCOA contract if the Cyprus-Amax merger fails to reach completion.
The UMW remains on strike against selected operations of Peabody Holding Co., Ziegler Coal Holding Co., Ashland Coal Co., Arch Minerals Corp., Consol Inc., Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Co. and C.L.I. Corp. The strike affects miners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
by CNB