The Tara Mines Group of Unions has welcomed the facility’s return to full operation this week, following an 18-month lay-off for the majority of its employees, and an end to the uncertainty surrounding its future.
SIPTU Sector Organiser, John Regan, said: “There is a sense of relief among workers and the communities throughout the north-east with the full reopening of the mine and the first blast to develop a mineral vein, taking place this week.
“The last of the miners have just completed a five-day return to work induction training and familiarisation process. This was essential due to nearly 200 workers exiting employment at the mine by taking up an agreed voluntary redundancy package, which has necessitated those remaining to develop new skills in order to ensure the facility’s safe operation.”
He added: “We must not have a repeat of an extended lay-off period for workers at the mine. The Government needs to build into all mining licences a requirement to keep them in operation. It also needs to have the ability to step in with financial support if required to avoid a mine going into ‘care and maintenance’ in the future.”
SIPTU Organiser, Andrew McGuinness, said: “With the departure of so many of their colleagues, there are new challenges for the 405 workers remaining employed at the mine. They have had to upskill to different roles and responsibilities under a new collective agreement, that provides for the future of the mine with the eventual commencement of the Tara Deep project. Worryingly, this project is currently being shelved by the mine owners, we believe because of funding restraints.”
He added: “We look forward to working with management and developing the mine, which is assisted by the recovery of the zinc and lead markets. The reduction in labour costs and this change in mineral prices should see the mine returning to profit in the short-term.”