Coal strike idles nearly 1,000 in Greene County
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The operator of two Greene County coal mines where miners went on strike yesterday shut down a third mine in Illinois that also was affected by the labor action.
Foundation Coal Holdings, based in Linthicum Heights, Md., near Baltimore, announced yesterday afternoon that its affiliate, Wabash Mine Holding Co., was closing its mine in Keensburg, Ill.. Members of the United Mine Workers there, as well as at the Cumberland and Emerald mines near Waynesburg, went on strike at 12:01 a.m. yesterday, idling more than 1,200.
The Wabash contract expired on Sunday and the Cumberland and Emerald contracts on Monday. The UMW has sought to have the three mines adopt the 2007 National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement, which the majority of the nation's mine operators signed in December. Foundation Coal has maintained that the mines require separate agreements because they have different customer bases and logistical and marketing needs.
The union is charging Foundation Coal with unfair labor practices because it has not provided information needed to bargain, said union spokesman Phil Smith.
Foundation Coal representative Peter Vietti said the company has bargained in good faith.
Both sides said they are willing to resume negotiations.
Foundation is one of the nation's largest coal producers, with 13 mines and related facilities. The Wabash mine employed 241, while 523 work at Cumberland and 473 at Emerald.
First Published April 5, 2007 12:00 am
