P. M. BRIEFING : UMW, Pittston to Resume Talks
The United Mine Workers and the Pittston Co. agreed today to resume contract negotiations in an effort to end a bitter strike that has idled thousands of coal miners in several states.
UMW President Richard Trumka and Pittston Vice President Joseph Farrell signed an agreement to resume negotiations this morning under supervision of a federal mediator.
Under the agreement, the mediator will meet with each side separately and deliver proposals to the other party.
The agreement also said Pittston can continue to claim that talks are at an impasse, and the union can still claim that Pittston has failed to bargain in good faith.
The agreement was a result of a four-hour meeting with U.S. District Judge Glen M. Williams.
In the coal fields, more than 4,000 UMW miners failed to report for work at Alabama’s two largest coal companies today, a day after they ended a four-week walkout. But a union official told them to go back for tonight’s shift.
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