The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

September 22, 2008

Little settled in The Greenbrier labor dispute

Christian Giggenbach

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Labor talks between The Greenbrier and resort union officials trudged on Monday with little being accomplished.

“The talks were very nonproductive,” Greenbrier Council of Labor Unions spokesman Harold Bock said. “We began at 10 a.m. and met for about 20 minutes across the table. By 3 p.m., our side had not heard back from the company so we broke it off for the day. We will be coming back to the table next Monday.”

Bock said resort negotiators have yet to respond to a health insurance proposal by the union which purportedly would save The Greenbrier $13.5 million over five years.

Bock also said the recent table games proposal on November’s ballot for The Greenbrier was not discussed Monday. Resort officials have maintained a “no comment” status about the issue. Union officials successfully lobbied the county commission recently to have voters decide if table games could be played at The Greenbrier. The same proposal was defeated by voters in 2000.

“In the meantime, we are forging ahead with our plans to not only get the message through to our members, but to the community, that this is the only way we are going to save our jobs,” Bock said.

As usual, Greenbrier resort officials said little about the ongoing negotiations.

“Today’s discussions on the master agreement were professional and will continue on Sept. 29,” public relations director Lynn Swann said Monday.

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