There is growing concern about the future of Tara Mines as the owner, Outokompu, maintains its silence over plans for the Navan plant. Efforts by the unions yesterday to elicit information from the company proved unsuccessful, and it is understood that the company has made no contact with the Labour Court over its recommendation that the unions' survival plan be given a three-month trial.
The unwillingness of the company to disclose its intentions is all the more surprising, given its frequently expressed concern that the Labour Court issue a fast decision because of the difficult financial circumstances of the mine. It lost $5 million (£3.8 million) in the first four months of this year and $20 million last year.
Union leaders were reluctant to comment on the situation yesterday for fear of exacerbating the crisis. The 630 employees, most of whom are members of SIPTU, have been told to work normally while the unions await word from the company. There have been no signs, as yet, that the company is planning a phased shut-down of the mine.
The mine came close to closing in February 1998, when a plan was devised by a joint steering committee of workers and management to improve performance. The unions claim to have come "within an ace" of meeting the targets by March this year, but management has said that progress was not satisfactory.
It had warned that failure by the unions to accept a new management survival plan unconditionally by June 1st would lead to the closure of Tara and temporary lay-off of the workforce. It reluctantly deferred the deadline to allow Labour Court intervention. However, since the Labour Court issued its recommendation last Monday there has been no comment from the company.