(Iowa City, Iowa), 1978-02-22
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Wednesday F~bruary 22, 1978 Vol. 110, No. 150 Iowa City's © 1'978 Student Publications Inc., 10 cents Morning newspaper ~ Ulworkersmay pay State of mines: biTter .more, but get less . BI/ Ullited Pre" Illternational "Every employee - and there are where they were picked up by city police. member of the caravan said, "PrIvate several thousand of them - will lose one "We were at the point of having 00 shut Individuals and private companies are Bands of strlldng miners Tuesday day's pay a week as a result," said a down the plant nelt Monday," said being terrorized 00 the point they can't in health insurance roamed the industrial midlands In search Chamber of Commerce official. Capital City president Rich4rd Helland. even operate ... I have carried a gun surance system was defeated by the of trucks hauling coal. Non.uniQn opera· In Ohio, after bands of striking miners "This shipment will keep us going for at continuously since the strike started." By BILL JOHNSON state Elecutlve CouncU Monday. Gov. tors vowed they would push their loads smashed windows, turned over trucks least two more days." . Elsewhere, the hit-and-run tactics University Editor Ray, who eventually sided with the through to powerplnched communities. and set fires at non.union mines In About 600 pickets closed down non spread. Indiana Gov. Otis R. Bowen regents In opposing the plan, acolded The anger and frustration generated southern Ohio Monday night, a group of a union operations In Lawrence, Harding Tuesday activated an additional 250 the UI during the meeting and said, by the 78-day strike by 160,000 United Independent coal ~ucers Tuesday and Vinton Counties Monday night. national guardsmen, bringing to 600 Approximately 4,SOO UI employees "Remember, you are state em· Mine Workers spilled over Inoo new drove a caravan of loaded coal trucks to "We had miners coming from troops riding shotgun on truck and rall may pay more and receive less In ployees," after strong UI opposition 00 violence and new calls for the the firing Columbus to show "there Is coal In everywhere, It said Bill Cray, vice shipments of coal to major uWltles. health care benefits beginning July III their inclusion In the plan. of union President Arnold Miller. Ohio." president of Local 1957 in Vinton County. The Western Pennsylvania Surface a proposal for their inclusion In a State Comptroller Marvin Seldon and Governors In major coal states pleaded Seven t uckloads of coal were "I don't think anyone was hurt. But we Coal Miners Association was offering a' statewide health Insurance plan Is state labor negotiator Gene Vernon for the two sides to get back to the delivered 00 Capital City Products. The shut them down pretty good." $1,000 reward for infonnatlon leading 00 accepted by the state Elecutlve sided against the regents, and 'IBid the bargaining table as homes, schools, busi· trucks were escorted by the Ohio High. ReI Corns, tipple manager at the Low the aITest and conviction of those forcing Council. Issue was whether the regents' in nesses and Industry, already suffering way Patrol 00 the Columbus city limits Sulfur Coal Co. in Beaver Ohio., and a truckers to dump their coal . The proposal, which Is expected to be stitutions should continue as the only power shortages, faced more cutbacks. presented to the council Monday, would group of state employees not Included President Carter met with remove UI merit system employees In the state plan. congressional leaders Tuesday ' and from the UI health insurance program The regents had voted unanimously, several lawmakers told him collective and include them in the state unit. last Thursday, 00 register their op bargaining was preferable to a legislated Officials for the state Board of position to the inclusion of 8IIy regents' settlement. Regents and the UI oppose the plan, institutions employees in any statewide In Washington, the coal operaoors which they say could coet the em· Insurance proposal. Particularly association and striking miners resumed ployees higher rates and would emphasized were the better benefits contract talks Tuesday f:Jr the first time In three days. Labor Secretary Ray I probably include fewer benefits, but usually provided In university health doubt they can stop paSlJ8ge of the Insurance plans. Marshall immediately started shuttling proposal. "The UI plan has a few extra between the parties with negotiable UI employees currently pay about $9 benefits, like free inpatient diagnostic Issues. per month less for health insurance work, and single person obstetrics An administration offiGial Indicated coverage for single people than other coverage," Jennings said. "I think the the new round of bargaining would focus state employees. Coverage fOl' a family general Issue Is coet, and coet 00 in· "In a very major way" on the settlement is about $16 less per month. dlvlduals. We don't feel that benefits reached Monday by the United Mine should be reduced, and we feel they are Workers and the irldependent Pittsburg R. Wayne Richey, executive increase dues or attract a substantial the city of Coralville on 1-80 near the secretary to the board, said, "We will lower here because of the efficiency of and Midway Coal Co. 8)1 DAVID CURTIS number of new memberships In order Coralville water tower. The committee favor a proposal that will allow us 00 management. It That contract, aiready approved by the Slaff Writer 00 undertake this program," Mitchell still maintains the signs, but has given keep responsibility for people that Over two-thirds of a single person's union's bargaining council, was seen by health coets are currently paid by the the union and some other officials as a said in the newsletter. them to the city. directly work for us, even If they are Loghry said rent for two billboards on Included In collective bargaining Ut, and as many dollars are paid possible model for a national pact. A proposal to help fund local ad· "The chamber budget is not great," In Indiana, mandaoory power cutbacks vertlslng on Interstate 80 billboards and said Joanna Beers, Chamber of 1-00 leased by the committee Is $400 per agreements that Include non-regents toward the cost of each family coverage sign per month. personnel. We do not think, however, policy. hit hard. Many schools cut hours or days In travel brochures and maps "to entice Commerce secretary. "But Mr. Mit- 00 Mitchell's estimate of $20,000 for that such a proposal will pass. In the "The policy Is stricUy based on ex· from their schedules and many pupils tra velers our city" is being con- chell feels the signs are of economic sidered by the Coralville Chamber of benefit 00 the community." advertising might be high, Loghry said. end we may have 00 agree to It, 00 avoid penses," Jennings said. "The experts were wearing coats to keep warm In cool say the costs for our faculty and staff classrooms. Commerce. "There are those who feel there is a Rental fees for the two billboards total even harsher alternatives." $9,600 and other advertising fees Ed Jennings, UI vice president for are lower than for the state employees. In TeITe Haute, three shopping malls, A suggestion has been made for the direct benefit to those businesses In H we are Included, these rates will go eight major department and discount chamber 00 pay $100 a month as ooken food, lodging, and auoo maintenance, probably ootalless than $10,000, he said, finance, said, "We would hope they making the total between $15,000 and could stay with us, and that we will up to the state level. soores, and many downoown busi.'1esses support $0 the group that cUITently but negligible good for others," Mit· $20,000. have a chance for a fair hearing. If they Gordon Jackson, public relations began the first of several Tuesday finances the advertising. chell said In the letter. specialist for the American Federation holidays . The rental and maintenance on the "Supporters of the program feel that Beers said no action has been taken were included In such a statewide plan, on the proposal by the chamber's board It of State, County and Municipal signs and the cost of ads in travel travel dollars find their way Into almost however, would be consistent with the of directors. "The letter is just a definitions of state bargaining units. Employees (AFSCME), a public secoor brochures and highway maps is ap- every Coralville cash register," he proximately $20,000 a year, according added . feeler," she added. "We would prefer 00 keep the pt'esent union repr~'IeIlting many UI merit In the... .Jetter,.... .Mitchell urged system," Jenni.n&s said. "We must system employees, said, "We·would be to J{ob~rt Mitcb~U, Chamber ot. -'~n committee.has fWICtioned recognize realities, however, and It especially concerned with those people Commerce president. This burden Is with the blessing of the Chamber of Coralville supporters to consider the proposal. He said a meeting will be held does not look as if this will happen." we represent. The provision of health carried by a small "sign committee" Commerce, but is funded separately," Currently both merit, mainly hourly care Is very important, and costs In this COrverupa and cjffiClll1ies In otQIning lI'IIorma composed of local business and Beers said. sometime in March for further tion IUrf_ In final UPI repol1 on Torrijoe .•.See professional people, Mitchell said In a The sign committee's major financial discussion and a vote. and lower paid workers, and non-merit, ar~ are important." which includes faculty, medical per· "We feel a high percentage, if not all, atory.