Arcon Mines Ltd has said it will close its zinc and lead mine at Galmoy, Co Kilkenny, if workers there do not end their strike and defer a pay claim until a company-union agreement is put in place. SIPTU is seeking a 100 per cent pay increase for the workers it represents. SIPTU members at the mine went on strike at the end of January. "The workers are getting less than half of the normal rate for this industry," said Kilkenny branch secretary Mr Phil Funchion.

The company, in its letter, said it was a small, Irish-owned company in start-up mode. The strike had put customer orders at risk, loan finance at risk, and shareholders' investments at risk. "The company sees two options - to close down or to get together to negotiate a resolution by following procedures established through a company-union agreement." See also page 7