UMWA And Alpha Settle Contracts

{Charleston, West Virginia}...The United Mine Workers of America and Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources have signed new 5-and-a-half-year contracts for five former Massey Energy coal preparation plants. Union President Cecil Roberts says 145 employees in West Virginia and Kentucky have been working under the terms of a contract that expired in 1998. Roberts says the workers will get a substantial raise for the first time in 14 years when the deal goes into effect January 1st, plus annual wage increases for the life of the agreement and a $1,000 bonus. Workers also get shift differentials, sickness and accident benefits, and better health care benefits. Roberts says Massey refused to deal with the workers when they were represented by the union, but Alpha is taking a new approach to its workers. The new labor agreement will last until June 30, 2017.