The Nation - News from July 12, 1989

United Mine Workers’ President Richard L. Trumka said he was accepting Virginia Gov. Gerald L. Baliles’ request that the union and The Pittston Coal Group resume negotiations under the supervision of a federal mediator, with Trumka and Pittston Co. Chairman Paul Douglas heading the negotiating teams. Pittston has rejected other requests that the two sides resume talks or that Douglas become personally involved in the negotiations. In Washington, Rep. William L. Clay (D-Mo.) said the House subcommittee on labor management relations would begin an investigation into the Pittston strike. More than 30,000 UMW members have been on wildcat strikes throughout Appalachia and the Midwest in support of 1,900 union members on strike.