The government originally proposed a system that would revolve around a dominant government-directed plan, but unions and employee associations, which had sponsored their own plans, protested.

This group also includes some volunteer fire departments, civic organizations and local employee associations.

Buffelsfontein said it agreed with trade unions and employee associations that 2,000 miners would be rehired after the mine's 5,500-member work force was dismissed.

The tentative contract between the county government and the employee association was approved by the union by a 4-to-1 ratio in a mail-in vote tabulated last month.

Some companies encourage the formation of homosexual employee associations.

Unions representing prison guards are the fastest-growing public employee associations in many states.

Senator Jesse Helms has introduced legislation that could limit the ability of homosexuals who work for the Federal Government to form employee associations.

"They're not supporting us like the other employee associations at the department in terms of sponsoring our events," she said.

Members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.

Footnotes (1) Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.