February 14th: Trade union Unite, which represents craft and staff grades at Tara Mines, has warned Boliden that ‘megaphone bullying’ is no substitute for collective engagement.

The union’s warning follows Boliden’s chief executive officer Mikael Staffas’ statement last week that the Swedish group, which owns Tara Mine, may decide to close the mine if it does not return to profitability. Boliden suspended operations at the mine last summer and placed it in care and maintenance. To date the company has refused to set a firm date for reopening the mine, and has failed to enter into meaningful negotiations with unions on a way forward to secure Tara’s future.

Commenting, Unite Regional Officer Brian Hewitt said:

“Last week’s remarks by Boliden CEO Mikael Staffas mark a new low in the bullying approach adopted by the company since last summer.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the ongoing suspension of operations at the mine has been dictated by a desire to undermine workers’ terms and conditions, rather than any immediate external factors such as energy costs, which are falling, or the price of zinc which is projected to start rising.

“Now Boliden’s management is resorting to threats in an attempt to force workers to accept their cost-cutting agenda and tear up previously negotiated agreements surrounding redundancies.

“Despite five conciliation meetings at the Workplace Relations Commission, no negotiations have taken place. Megaphone bullying is no substitute for real collective engagement. If Boliden is really interested in securing the future of Tara mines, they need to change their approach and engage meaningfully with unions”.