Outokompu and workers at Tara Mines are to consider new proposals to restore the Navan plant's viability and save 600 jobs. This follows intensive negotiations between local management and union representatives at the weekend.
The talks were conducted with the help of two facilitators, the Meath County Council chairman, Mr Brian Fitzgerald, and the Rights Commissioner, Ms Janet Hughes. Both sides agreed to meet after intervention by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, who is a local TD.
After the talks concluded, Mr Fitzgerald expressed guarded optimism. "There was considerable engagement in all the issues and by representatives of all sections of the workforce," he said. A comprehensive document had been drawn up to be put to both the workers and the Finnish owner, Outokompu. Technically, the consultative process was supposed to end yesterday, and Outokompu has been asked for extra time to allow the workforce to consider the proposals. Workers will be balloted on the proposals on Thursday and Friday.
Outokompu began introducing Canadian miners last year because of falling productivity and rising absenteeism among the local workforce. In response to ministerial intervention the company agreed to defer the introduction of more Canadian production miners until yesterday, to allow discussions to take place. New miners brought in to the mine last week have remained on training courses.
Mr Fitzgerald declined to comment on the content of the proposals ahead of the workforce receiving them. However, the document must address the three most contentious issues which have arisen at the mine: the cut in earnings because of new production targets introduced last year; the underground shift patterns under which the miners operate (the company wants a 10 1/2hour, four-day week, instead of the current eight-hour, five-day week); and the use of Canadian contract miners.
Hopes of resolving the dispute have risen following the publication of Outokompu's results for 1999. It made £77 million, compared with a loss of over £3.5 million in 1998. The change was largely due to rising metal prices.
Outokompu's chief executive, Mr Jyrki Juusela, said the company was committed to keeping Tara Mines open, but local miners were opposing reforms.