Published: August 25, 2008 10:37 pm      

Union upset over Greenbrier CSX tactics

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Union officials met with Greenbrier hotel negotiators Monday for the first time in nearly a month, only to be rebuffed by what they say are stall tactics being used by resort officials over health insurance premiums.

The labor dispute at the four-star world-renowned resort has been ongoing since February and little progress was accomplished Monday, according to union officials.

Harold Bock, lead negotiator for the Council of Labor Unions, said the union had presented a new comprehensive health insurance plan to Greenbrier officials during their last round of talks July 30. Bock said the plan has a cost-savings benefit for The Greenbrier of about $13.5 million over the life of the five-year contract, which is about $1 million more than the union’s last offer at the table.

Bock said several meetings between the parties had been canceled since July 30 because of scheduling problems on his part and to accommodate the vacation schedule of at least one Greenbrier lawyer, Mark Carter.

Bock said Monday’s meeting was shortened after Greenbrier officials asked for more time so resort experts could thoroughly check the numbers from the new offer with the union’s insurance company.

Bock believes the delay was disingenuous given the fact that the information resort negotiators asked for at the table Monday “did not require a meeting.” Making matters even worse, Bock said, was a call he recently received from Gov. Joe Manchin concerning CSX CEO Michael Ward. The Greenbrier is owned by the Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad company.

“The governor called me and told me about conversation he had with Michael Ward,” Bock said, “implying the union was not giving resort officials enough dates for labor talks. That’s implying that the union is dragging its feet, but they were the ones not prepared to bargain today.”

When reached by phone Monday, CSX spokesman Gary Sease said “we would prefer to maintain our stance of not commenting on the labor negotiations.”

In a June article concerning the labor dispute, Sease said Ward had no control over policy and labor issues at The Greenbrier.

“CSX does not control the labor policy, decisions or strategies of The Greenbrier,” Sease previously said. Bock said he received a letter containing much of the same language from CSX officials.

“Then why is he (Ward) calling the governor?” Bock asked.

Manchin could not be reached for comment Monday due to his participation at the Democratic National Convention being held in Denver, an aide from the governor’s office said Monday.

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Lynn Swann, public relations director for The Greenbrier, said questions regarding CSX Inc. and Ward are handled through Sease.

“The Greenbrier and the Council of Labor Unions met today on the master agreement,” Swann said. “The discussions were professional and the parties agreed to continue to evaluate health care-related proposals. The parties also established five dates for collective bargaining meetings on the master agreement in September.”

Bock verified the proposed five meetings in September. The next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 5. Bock said several factors other than health insurance premiums continue to be problematic.

“I’ll be very candid here. We are no closer to an agreement than ever before. It’s not just the insurance premiums; it’s the hours that make employees eligible for insurance, which also factors into paid holidays, and much more,” a frustrated Bock said. “We are no closer then we were at the beginning of the labor talks.”

When asked about a series of negative newspaper advertisements that the Council of Labor Unions has been running against The Greenbrier in four newspapers, including The Register-Herald, Bock said the ads were also seen in The Charleston Gazette and two Greenbrier County newspapers — The West Virginia Daily News and The Mountain Messenger. In total, the ads will run six times in each newspaper.

The ads feature longtime resort employees complaining about working conditions, a proposed increase in health insurance, pension plans and other issues.

“We did not issue a press release to the media because we wanted the words to come straight from the union members’ mouths and not from Harold Bock or from a reporter,” Bock said.

— E-mail:

cgiggenbach@register-herald.com