Strike enters fifth day at Anthracite Industries
Ty Sees, the union representative for the
"I've talked with them, and the group has a good frame of mind about what they are entitled to. I feel that we will prevail," Sees said in a phone interview.
The biggest stumbling block in reaching a new agreement is health care benefits and who will pay for them. Currently, employees are paying 20 percent of their health care costs, but the company wants a clause in the contract that if an annual health insurance premium increases 7.5 percent or more, the cost of the increase will be placed on the workers.
For example, if a premium is
"The 'cap' as the company calls it, not only would take away any raises that we are negotiating in the contract, but cause the workers to lose money," Sees said.
Union negotiators have asked to call in a federal mediator, but Sees said company officials will not budge on the health care matter.
Workers have applied to the union for strike benefits, which will pay them for a 10-hour pay week while walking the picket line. Sees said the workers current health benefits are paid up through the end of May. The next bargaining session between the two sides is scheduled for
The plant, which processes coal, is on
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