Government must act now to secure future of Europe’s largest zinc mine

June 29th: Unite, which represents craft and staff grades at Tara Mines, today (Thursday) called on the Government to take the mine into public ownership in the absence of a firm commitment from the highly profitable parent company Boliden to an early resumption of operations at the mine and continued payment of workers’ wages in the interim.

Pointing out that decisive Government action is needed not only to secure jobs and skills, but to safeguard a vital national asset which can play a role in a low-carbon economy going forward, Unite Regional Secretary Susan Fitzgerald said:

“Boliden’s decision to suspend operations at Tara Mines indefinitely would have a devastating impact on the workers concerned and the communities they support. 

“Zinc has the potential to play a crucial role in a low-carbon economy.  There is a very real possibility that, if and when Boliden decides to recommence operations at some unspecified future date, the highly skilled workers who built Tara Mines into Europe’s largest zinc mine may have taken their skills and expertise elsewhere.

“Immediate pressure must be put on Boliden to give a firm re-opening date, while also continuing to pay workers’ wages during this self-imposed shut-down – Boliden can well afford to do this.

“In the absence of such a commitment, the Government should move immediately to take Tara Mines into public ownership.

“Unite is calling for immediate and effective Government action to secure jobs and skills, while retaining this critical national asset.

“Unite will be raising this matter at the ICTU Biennial Delegate Conference in Kilkenny next week”, Ms Fitzgerald concluded.