Strike Enters Fifth Day At Anthracite Industries

SUNBURY - A union representative said both sides of a coal company strike are stuck at an impasse as the work halt enters its fifth day today.

Ty Sees, the union representative for the Teamsters Union Local 764 out of Milton, said Thursday the 26 workers at Anthracite Industries walking the picket lines remain united.

"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 $1,000 a month, $200 a month is paid by an employee. However, under the 7.5 percent "cap," the workers premium would increase to $275 a month while the company's rate would not change.

"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 April 29.

The plant, which processes coal, is on Anthracite Road, between Route 61 and Snydertown Road, and is a division of Asbury Carbons, Asbury, N.J., a major supplier of natural graphite, synthetic graphite, related carbon products and a variety of other raw materials.