NYT/AP: Union, Coal Company (Sago) Sitting Out Interviews

[DeepModem Mom]

Union, Coal Company Sitting Out Interviews
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 19, 2006


CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) -- A dispute between the owner of the Sago Mine and the United Mine Workers has led both sides to refrain from sitting in on interviews by state and federal officials investigating this month's fatal explosion at the coal mine.

A union official said neither its representatives nor those of International Coal Group Inc. attended interview sessions Thursday, a day after the company challenged the union's right to take part in the investigation involving a nonunion mine.

Several miners have asked the union to serve as their representative during the investigation, and federal investigators have officially recognized the union as the miners' representative.

The union and the company drafted a written agreement that says neither will participate in the interviews but the union has not approved it, said Phil Smith, the union's director of communications.

"We are still evaluating the language and have not officially agreed to it at this point," Smith said Thursday afternoon. "The hearings are proceeding. That really is the important thing."...


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Mine-Explosion.html