“[R]ecent talks with the UMWA have resulted in substantial progress toward a consensual resolution,” officials said.

On Monday, about a month after a US Bankruptcy Court judge in Missouri granted the move, Patriot exercised its authority to implement changes to wages, benefits and active employee healthcare.

However, the company said, those terms were “significantly improved” from those approved by the court.

“Patriot and the UMWA are continuing to meet in a diligent effort to resolve the outstanding differences and reach a consensual agreement,” it said.

The two have also come to an agreement that will allow the continuation of retiree healthcare at current levels through this month and next.

“Negotiations are expected to continue over the coming weeks,” a Patriot spokesman said, and the two have a goal in mind.

“The parties are targeting completion of a final resolution to be presented to UMWA members by the end of July.”

Next week marks the one-year anniversary of Patriot’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing.

It initially opened the case in New York, but late last year it was transferred to St Louis, Missouri, the same location as its headquarters office.

While the UMWA did not release a public statement by press time following Patriot’s announcement Monday afternoon, union spokesman Phil Smith did tell media outlets, including the St Louis Post-Dispatch, that it remained hopeful the talks would reach a consensual agreement.

“We continue to meet with the company in an effort to make more progress,” he said, noting that UMWA president Cecil Roberts was planning an update meeting with members at the end of a company-wide vacation period, which closes in about three weeks.

No specific date has been set for the gathering.