Published: August 27, 2008 09:54 pm         

Manchin wants middle ground in labor dispute

Gov. Joe Manchin says “middle ground” must be found in the ongoing Greenbrier resort labor dispute.

Manchin responded Wednesday to a Register-Herald story concerning the latest round of talks and a phone call he recently received from CSX president Michael Ward. Ward complained to the governor that union officials were not cooperating in setting meeting dates in the seven-month labor dispute, the governor said. The Greenbrier is owned by the Jacksonville, Fla.-based railroad company.

Harold Bock, lead negotiator for the Council of Labor Unions, char-ged CSX with using stall tactics at Monday’s meeting and said the union has been diligently trying to set meeting dates. Bock also took issue with Ward’s intervention, stating he previously received a letter from CSX that stated Ward doesn’t control the labor polices at the resort and the issue was being handled by resort officials. In May, a CSX spokesman told The Register-Herald the railroad was not involved in the labor dispute.

Manchin recently help-ed broker the “no-strike, no-lockout” agreement that has allowed union members to work under the terms of their old contract through January 2009. Union officials said many members have been called back to work and business has picked up at the resort since that agreement.

“Both parties assured me at the time that they would work to come to an agreement,” Manchin said by phone Wednesday from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. “These labor problems can be worked out if both parties can reasonably find middle ground.”

Manchin, who spoke at the convention on Tuesday night, said he will return to the Mountain State Friday.

“I got a call from Michael Ward who said they were unable to get meeting dates and I called Harold Bock to tell him that,” Manchin said. “I am not negotiating for anyone. If Harold would call me and tell me something, then I would make the call to Michael Ward immediately.”

Manchin said Stan Hostler, the retired Charleston attorney he appointed as a liaison to observe the labor talks, has been in the hospital and has not been able to report to him on the progress of the meetings.

But the governor said Wednesday that both sides must be willing to make compromises.

“This can all be worked out,” he said. “But common ground must be found and it can’t be taken all out of the hide of just one party.”

— E-mail:

cgiggenbach@register-herald.com