'Decision to suspend operations in Tara Mines will have a devastating impact on the workers, their families and local economy'

Unions representing workers at Tara Mines have called on the Government to urgently intervene in the crisis with the temporary closure of the facility due to begin in just over a week's time.

SIPTU has called for immediate State action to attempt to resolve the crisis facing 550 workers, their families and the economy which will result from a temporary closure of Tara Mines commencing on 14th July.

The closure is also having a detrimental effect on hundreds of other jobs that rely on the mine staying operational and workers employed.

Division Organiser, Adrian Kane, proposed a motion jointly sponsored by SIPTU, Unite and Connect trade union at the ICTU Biennial Conference in Kilkenny, this morning (Thursday, 6th July) calling for government action on the Tara Mines crisis. It was unanimously endorsed by conference delegates.

Kane said: “The decision by the highly profitable Boliden Group to suspend operations in Tara Mines will have a devastating impact on the workers, their families and local economy.

"This will not be resolved without the Government taking ownership of this situation and saving this critical asset. The ICTU conference has called upon the Government to urgently engage with Boliden management and trade unions to put in place the necessary supports to ensure that the mine remains in production and workers’ continue to be paid in full.”

He added: “It has also called on the Government to take into account the strategic role that Tara Mines plays in the wider national economy and the importance of zinc as a critical material in transitioning to a carbon neutral economy.”

The unoffcial protest at Tara Mines began at 6pm yesterday in protest to what workers claimed is the company's failure to engage with unions on supports while the mine temporarily shuts and the conditions of the planned 'care an maintenance' programme for the mine due to come into effect on 14th July.

Workers manning the picket confirmed to the Meath Chronicle that production had ceased and that this unofficial action would continue. They are demanding that Government step up efforts to get the situation resolved and the company to actively engage with unions.

At 1pm today (Thursday) 100 workers were on the picket line with no production taking place inside the mine.

In a statement released this morning Boliden Tara Mines stated: "We are engaged in a discussion process with the group of unions under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission, and will continue to engage constructively in that process over the coming days. In the context of this ongoing process, we have no further comment to make."

More to follow...