The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

May 15, 2008

No agreement reached in Greenbrier, labor talks

By Christian Giggenbach

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Wednesday’s negotiations between union and Greenbrier resort officials concerning labor contracts ended once again without a new agreement. The next meeting concerning the resort’s master agreement is scheduled for May 29.

Lynn Swann, director of public relations for the resort, said Greenbrier officials and the Council of Labor Unions are “continuing to negotiate to achieve a collective bargaining agreement.”

Harold Bock, spokesman for the Council of Labor Unions, could not reached for comment late Thursday. Bock previously said negotiations have been stymied over keeping union members’ health insurance, fringe benefits and pension plans.

This week, The Greenbrier’s largest business client, the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, ran full-page advertisements in The Register-Herald and a local Lewisburg newspaper, The West Virginia Daily News, urging both sides “to get back to the table continuously until you have resolved your issues.”

In the advertisement, Ken Crerar, the president of the Washington-based insurance group, said its October insurance leadership forum, which has been held at the Greenbrier for 95 years, will be moved unless a collective bargaining agreement has been reached by June 2. The insurance group earlier in the year moved two conferences to The Homestead in Virginia. Greenbrier officials previously said “a substantial amount of revenue” had been lost due to the labor dispute. During its October conferences, the insurance group rents all 700-plus rooms at the resort.

“The world has changed ... in 1913 there were few competitors to The Greenbrier. Today there are many, and The Greenbrier must focus on being more competitive, a better value and substantially upgrading its service levels to remain a premier destination,” Crerar said in the advertisement. “Time is slipping ... by June 2, I must make a final decision about whether to relocate this substantial meeting to another resort. Unless a final agreement is in place, I regret the choice will be made for me.”

The union’s nine labor contracts and master agreement all expired Jan. 31. After a 28-day contract extension ended in February, union employees have been working under the terms of their old agreement penned in 2003.

Federal mediators have been present during the labor talks and Gov. Joe Manchin recently sent retired lawyer and labor expert Stan Hostler to “advise” after both parties agreed to his involvement.

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

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