Tara Mines has agreed to a request from the Government not to increase its use of Canadian contract miners while new talks take place to improve productivity and industrial relations at the troubled Navan plant. The new talks have a deadline of February 5th. If they fail, a serious escalation of the dispute and the loss of up to 600 jobs appear inevitable.
Last Friday miners rejected proposals for new work practices and the company then announced it would increase the use of contract miners to boost productivity. It also warned that the mine would close if productivity remained low.
Although there are only 18 Canadian miners at Navan, their presence represents a potential flashpoint. SIPTU has raised the issue of further miners being brought in from Canada with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Canadian miners were allowed entry without work permits.
The Government initiative follows intensive discussions behind the scenes since last Monday involving senior Ministers, SIPTU regional secretary Mr Jack O'Connor and Tara Mines management. The Government team consisted of the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, who is a local TD, and Dr Woods in his capacity as Minister for Natural Resources.
The new talks are to begin immediately under the auspices of the chairman of Meath County Council, Mr Brian Fitzgerald, and Rights Commissioner Ms Janet Hughes. Mr Fitzgerald is a full-time SIPTU official and Ms Hughes is a former SIPTU regional secretary.
Mr Fitzgerald chaired similar talks last July, but a settlement brokered then foundered on the interpretation of a key productivity clause. Subsequently, productivity dropped to 60 per cent and absenteeism soared.
The latest initiative was announced yesterday by Mr Dempsey. Tara Mines has agreed to confine new contract miners to training and orientation while the talks take place.