ANTONITO - Harborlite Corp. has informed the Teamsters Local 455, that it is ending the lockout immediately.

Harborlite stated that it anticipates that the locked-out workers would return to work at the start of their regular shift rotations this week. They underwent some federal mining-safety agency required recertification training on Saturday.

Teamsters Business Agent Jim Adams said work would begin Monday, Jan. 18. Union attorney Michael J. Belo said, "The Union and the locked-out workers will cooperate with Harborlite in accomplishing the return to work as soon as possible. The action by Harborlite does not resolve all the issues pending before the National Labor Relations Board, and the NLRB hearing is still going forward on Jan. 20, but it obviously it is an encouraging development."

The union filed a charge with the NLRB in mid-November stating the firm "engaged in bad-faith bargaining… by threatening employees and their collective bargaining representative, that the employer would lock out employees and would hire permanent replacements for the locked out employees."

The complaint states further, "The lockout is inherently destructive of employees' rights because of the Employer's threats to permanently replace employees."

"The Charging Party requests temporary injunctive relief under Section 10(j) [of the National Labor Relations Act] restoring the status quo before the lockout and requiring the Employer to reinstate employees immediately with back pay and good faith bargaining."

Speculation by a union member who asked not to be named suggested that the firm may be trying to avoid as much back pay without work as possible under the circumstances.

The lockout began Oct. 8, 2009 after several months of bargaining between the Teamsters and Harborlite failed. The union had offered to continue to work under the old contract even after its expiration date in August provided negotiations continued, but after what was promoted by the company as its "last, best, final offer," the workers were locked out.

The NLRB hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20 at a conference center at Blanca St. and Main (US Highway 160) west of the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center. The function is open to the public.

The lockout has affected 29 workers at the perlite mine 20 miles southeast of Antonito and the mill facility nearby town.