UMWA reaches agreement with P&M Coal for new contract

For Immediate Release

Contact: Phil Smith, (703) 208-7241 or 571-345-8338

UMWA reaches agreement with P&M Coal for new contract
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) announced today that it has reached a new five-year collective bargaining agreement with the Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Co. (P&M), a subsidiary of Chevron Corp.
 
"This agreement incorporates all the provisions of the agreements the union has reached over the last several months with other coal companies, including the Bituminous Coal Operators Association (BCOA)," UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. "It includes the wage ncreases, the bonus, the improved pension provisions and continuation of the current health care benefits with no cuts.
 
"Å“We are very pleased to have been able to reach this agreement with P&M," Roberts said. "We look forward to continuing our good working relationship with the company in the coming years."
 
As in the BCOA agreement, UMWA members will receive an immediate $1.50 per hour increase and a total $4.00 per hour increase over the life of the agreement. P&M has agreed to pay the initial increase retroactively to February 2, 2007, the date the previous contract had expired.
 
UMWA miners will also receive the $1,000 bonus negotiated in the BCOA contract, as well as pension improvements, maintenance of current health care benefits for active and retired members with no cuts in benefits and other insurance improvements.
 
The UMWA represents 350 miners as well as hundreds of retirees at P&M's North River mine in Alabama.
 
The UMWA has now reached new collective bargaining agreements with all the major coal companies where previous contracts expired over the last several months. The only remaining company that has not yet reached an agreement is Foundation Coal, whose agreement with the UMWA expires April 1, 2007.