For the record (2)
A tentative agreement has been reached between the United Mine Workers union and mine construction companies which could end a 12-week strike, a union spokesman said. The new 40-month construction contract calls for a 38.5 percent increase in wages and benefits for some 11,000 construction workers. Production of soft coal has been slowed at a number of mines because thousands of miners refuse to cross picket line s set up by the construction workers.