Negotiators for the United Mine Workers and the coal industry "very carefully" worked 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 earlier last week that he would be ready to announce a final agreement, but by week's end those hopes dimmed.It could be several days before both sides are satisfied with the written versions of what they have already agreed to orally, 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 only 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.
One point has been a particular sore spot and led to UMW President Richard Trumka's demand that union members receive 100 percent of all new jobs created by companies signing the agreement as well as those created at their related subsidiaries and sister operations.
Union officials say they believe the expired 1988 agreement entitled them to 60 percent of newly created jobs at mines operated by members of the coal operators association and their subsidiaries.
The agreement included a section headlined "non-signatory operators" that the union believed covered those operators that didn't sign the contract.
However, the companies have contended that the language in the 1988 contract extends only to those companies that signed the agreement. They point to language in the coverage clause that outlines who is obligated by the agreement.
The union says some operators set up nonunion subsidiaries as an intentional plan to circumvent the contract language.
The UMW has been on strike since May 10 against selected targets of the Bituminous Coal Operators Association. The union says it now has about 17,500 members on strike in seven states.
While the UMW has said that its priority in the negotiations is future employment for its members, the operators said they need more flexible work rules and concessions on health-care costs.