Published: September 06, 2008 12:25 am      

Labor discussions remain quiet

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Labor discussions between The Greenbrier and union officials revved up again Friday, the first of a series of three meetings scheduled to run through Tuesday.

No major developments in the ongoing dispute were announced by union officials or resort officials Friday. However, this is the first time three back-to-back meetings have been scheduled since the expiration of union members’ contract in January.

“Today’s discussions centered on solutions for health care benefits and we have meetings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday,” Lynn Swann, the resort’s director of public relations, said Friday.

Harold Bock, lead negotiator for the Greenbrier Council of Labor Unions, said the discussions lasted about five hours. Bock said resort officials have not yet responded to a union offer which would cut health care costs by $13.5 million over the five-year contract period.

“The only reason we did not get a response today is because the company is continuing to work on that proposal,” Bock said by phone Friday. “We negotiated on all items today, but the main thing we are talking about is full-time versus part-time employees.”

Bock said he was in contact with Gov. Joe Manchin “several times” this week concerning the labor dispute. Manchin on Wednesday urged both sides to come to agreement before the holidays. Manchin’s liaison for the talks, Stan Hostler, was unable to attend Friday’s meeting due to health issues, Bock said.

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