OTHER NEWS - Dec. 15, 1993

Coal Strike Ends: The United Mine Workers of America ended a seven-month strike by 17,700 miners, ratifying a national contract that boosts wages and breaks new ground by reserving jobs at non-union mines for UMW members. Striking miners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Virginia are expected to return to work Thursday afternoon, ending the longest national walkout by the UMW in decades. The landmark five-year pact with major U.S. coal producers guarantees for the first time that 60% of all job openings at existing or new non-union mines owned by the companies will be filled by UMW members, officials said. The contract covering up to 60,000 active and laid-off miners also increases wages by $1.30 an hour over three years and improves pension benefits.