P.M. BRIEFING : Judge Orders Striking Miners to End Their Occupation of Coal Plant
ABINGDON, Va. — A federal judge today gave striking miners until dusk to end their occupation of a Pittston Coal Group plant.
U.S. District Judge Glen Williams said the nearly 100 United Mine Workers could leave before the deadline without penalty for shutting down the plant since Sunday.
“Hopefully, the union will peacefully vacate without having to do so by force,” the judge said.
The National Labor Relations Board had requested the hearing to punish the union for defying a court order to end the occupation in Russell County. Pittston had sought fines against the miners.
Pittston’s 1,695 UMW employees have been on strike since April over wages and working conditions. The union has been fined about $22 million by state and federal judges for illegal demonstrations and violence.
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