
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 21, 1993                   TAG: 9311210112
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

COAL-STRIKE NEGOTIATORS FINE-TUNE AGREEMENT

Negotiators for the United Mine Workers and the coal industry worked "very carefully" Saturday on the final wording of a new labor agreement that could end the union's six-month strike.

Special mediator Bill Usery had raised hopes of a final agreement, but by week's end those hopes dimmed.

It could be several days before both sides are satisfied with the written version of a spoken agreement, a source close to the talks said Saturday.

The two sides were taking their time drafting the agreement, said the source, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity.

"They don't want any misunderstandings," he said. "They are going over everything very, very carefully."

Legal disputes arising from the 1988 agreement have not yet been fully resolved, even though the contract expired in February.

by CNB