Pennsylvania operations Cumberland Coal Resources and Emerald Coal Resources each signed respective new agreements with the union that expire the last day of 2011, putting more than 1000 Foundation miners back to work. The agreement and work restart were effective late last week and Foundation said in a statement that UMWA would conduct safety examinations before resuming production.

“We are pleased to welcome our men and women back to work,” said Cumberland mine manager John Dzurino. Emerald mine manager Doug Conklin concurred: “A swift end to the work stoppage benefits everyone, and we now look forward to returning to what we do best ... mining coal safely and efficiently and serving the customers who rely on our products.”

Foundation also said the closure of its Wabash mine in Illinois was addressed with the union, including benefits and severance pay for its 230 affected workers there.

UMWA released a statement on the announcement shortly after the producer, stressing that while the specifics of the deal were undisclosed, the agreement was to its liking.

“The union was able to maintain the national contract pattern in all respects at the Cumberland and Emerald mines, and indeed negotiated improvements in the national agreement in several areas,” said union president Cecil Roberts.

Especially positive was one aspect of the agreement involving its workers soon to be displaced through the Wabash closure. “One very important part of the agreement with Wabash will give those miners rights to jobs at Cumberland and Emerald as positions come open, which is likely to happen very rapidly,” Roberts said.

Additionally, he noted, the union has negotiated successorship rights effective for the next five years for a significant seam section at the Illinois complex.

“If Wabash or any other company comes in and mines that block of coal, they will do it with UMWA members, with the 2007 national agreement in effect,” he said.

Roberts said he and the union as a whole had hoped to avoid the strike altogether, but were glad that an agreement could be reached expeditiously.

“The strength and solidarity displayed by our members at all three mines over this past week have been simply outstanding,” he said.