Warning of sit-in as hopes fade for solution to mine closure

Workers at Tara Mines have warned they will occupy the mine later this month if a deal isn't reached before the proposed closure.

The warning comes as hopes faded for a solution that would avert the closure of the facility from mid July.

As Unions and management met this week for talks at the Workplace Relations Commission, SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “Boliden, the owners of Tara Mines, has yet to present to unions with a satisfactory outline of what it envisages providing its employees in terms of a retainer and other payments in the event of a lay off. This is a completely unacceptable situation and does not bode well in terms of where this dispute is heading.”

Unions also met with a government delegation which included the Minister for Enterprise, Simon Coveney, and Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, yesterday (Monday) at which the government committed to continuing engagement with unions.

Meanwhile, the Unite trade union called on Government to take the mine into public ownership.

"In the absence of a firm commitment from the highly profitable parent company Boliden to an early resumption of operations at the mine and continued payment of workers' wages in the interim, the Government should move immediately to take Tara Mines into public ownership," said Unite Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald.

It is now looking increasingly likely that Tara Mines will go into care and maintenance mode on 14th July, following the announcement by management last week, that cost cutting proposals by the trade unions were not enough to prevent the closure.

"Unfortunately, the proposals will not sufficiently address, in the short term, the significant and unsustainable losses that the business is currently experiencing. These losses have been driven by several factors including a decline in the price of zinc, high energy prices, general cost inflation and operational challenges," according to a statement from the company," according to a statement from the company.

The decision means that production at the mine ceases and that the workforce is temporarily laid off until conditions of the operation improve.

John Regan said “Union members at Tara Mines remain committed to the proposals that were presented to the company and the Government earlier this month which we believe can maintain the mine in full operation to at least the end of the year. In this regard, we will continue fighting for the interests of our members and the wider community.”

SIPTU division organiser, Adrian Kane said the focus of the WRC meeting will be possible lay off terms and considering the factors which could bring the mine back into full operation.

“Union representatives will be seeking as positive an outcome to these discussions as possible. However, the Government and company must be fully aware that our members will not accept moves that will endanger the future of this vital economic resource or the economic wellbeing or their communities. We will not be leaving this mine until all outstanding issues are resolved to the satisfaction of our members.”

The company said that following the announcement on 13th June that the mine would enter a ‘care and maintenance’ period, Boliden Tara Mines had engaged extensively with representatives from the company’s group of unions.

"The Boliden Tara Mines management team attended two days of constructive meetings with the union representatives on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th June 2023, at which the unions presented suggestions for costs saving and operational improvements.

"The management has reviewed in detail all the proposals that have been presented, and believe that a number of the measures presented have the potential to deliver benefits to our operation over the medium to long term.

"It is with great regret that the decision to temporarily suspend operations and place the mine into care and maintenance from mid-July is unavoidable."

Boliden Tara Mines General Manager, Gunnar Nystrom said: “We have not taken this decision lightly, but we believe this is the best course of action to safeguard the long-term future of the mine. We will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders to ensure the operation can re-open as soon as possible.”

Pointing out that decisive Government action is needed not only to secure jobs and skills, but to safeguard a vital national asset, Unite Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald said: “Boliden’s decision to suspend operations at Tara Mines indefinitely would have a devastating impact on the workers concerned and the communities they support.

“Zinc has the potential to play a crucial role in a low-carbon economy. There is a very real possibility that, if and when Boliden decides to recommence operations at some unspecified future date, the highly skilled workers who built Tara Mines into Europe’s largest zinc mine may have taken their skills and expertise elsewhere.

“Immediate pressure must be put on Boliden to give a firm re-opening date, while also continuing to pay workers’ wages during this self-imposed shut-down – Boliden can well afford to do this.

“In the absence of such a commitment, the Government should move immediately to take Tara Mines into public ownership.

“Unite is calling for immediate and effective Government action to secure jobs and skills, while retaining this critical national asset."