Published: June 12, 2008 09:55 pm         

The Greenbrier: Contract negotiations continue

Union: Resort starving workers into submission

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — With yet another round of talks and no contract in hand, union officials embroiled in the five-month dispute with The Greenbrier are now saying the resort is “starving” them out in order to cut labor costs with a more favorable collective bargaining agreement.

“It’s become clear that the tactic The Greenbrier and its owners are attempting is to starve our employees into submission in order to obtain a subpar contract in terms of wages, benefits and working conditions,” Council of Labor Unions spokesperson Harold Bock said Thursday.

Bock, along with union official Peter Bostic and others, met with Greenbrier officials about three hours at the White Sulphur Springs fire hall Thursday. Huntington lawyer Mark Carter, the Greenbrier’s lead attorney, declined comment when seen exiting the fire hall.

Other Greenbrier officials present were vice president of human resources Peter Rosenberger and general manager Michael Gordon.

From the beginning, The Greenbrier’s public relations director, Lynn Swann, has declined comment on any of the pertinent issues and has said nearly the exact same words after each round of talks.

“Proposals were exchanged by both parties today and negotiations were professional and productive,” she said Thursday. “We look forward to completing successful negotiations.”

All attempts by The Register-Herald to speak with Greenbrier officials have been declined through Swann.

Bock said a considerable number of union members have been laid off, although some have recently been called back to work. Greenbrier officials have repeatedly declined comment on workforce questions. During normal years, up to 1,100 union members are employed by the world-famous resort.

“At its height about two weeks ago, approximately 30 percent of all union members had been laid off,” Bock said.

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The Greenbrier’s proposed collective bargaining agreement, obtained by The Register-Herald and dated Feb. 1, 2008, shows a marked difference in health premiums compared with the union’s current plan.

According to The Greenbrier’s proposed agreement, the union’s health, dental and vision plan would be terminated, health benefits for part-time employees would be dropped and benefits for employees would begin only after accruing 1,660 hours of work. Under the current agreement, health benefits begin after working 500 hours in one year.

“The Greenbrier will provide a benefits package that maintains the level of benefits in existence at the time of the execution of this agreement ...,” the 55-page document states. “The Greenbrier will have sole discretion to self-insure or retain a carrier to insure its liabilities ...”

Under The Greenbrier’s proposal, a single payer’s monthly contribution would nearly double from $47 a month to $92.93 and its proposed family plan coverage shows an even larger increase from $95 a month to $397.87.

Other items from The Greenbrier’s proposal includes:

-- Benefits under the existing pension plan would be “frozen,” but preserved, and “no new benefits” would be offered.

-- The union’s “living contract” and collective bargaining “succession agreement” — which states union contracts remain effective if The Greenbrier is sold — would be terminated.

-- Overtime pay would begin after a 10-hour work day as opposed to an eight-hour work day.

Greenbrier officials declined comment concerning their proposal.

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Prior to leaving the table, Bock said the union proposed a health benefits plan that would save The Greenbrier “$12 million a year for the next five years.” The proposal keeps the union as its own health care provider.

“Some deductibles and co-pays would have to change for employees based on modest increases,” Bock said. “And it caps The Greenbrier’s premium increase at 8 percent over the next five years.”

Bock also said the union is willing to allow benefits to kick in after 1,000 hours of work is accrued.

“They’ve got the proposal in hand,” Bock said. “Now, we wait and see.”

Stan Hostler, appointed by Gov. Joe Manchin to oversee the labor talks, was not present Thursday because of a previous commitment and only one of two federal mediators attended.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com