About 200 workers blocked entrances to Boliden’s Tara Mines today at lunch time. The action started last night at 6pm continuing last night. This morning, workers were met by officials from both SIPTU and Unite looking to advance a strategy for the workers in four large back-to-back meetings that happened just on the other side of the main gate blockade. Workers heard arguments but look likely to continue their blockade as the company ‘cliffedges’ them to indefinite layoff two months after a report from consultancy which, workers report, their new management claims not to have acted on. But the change in management since then has been dramatic.
The mine in Tara produces zinc and lead and has for years been a good employer for years. Workers reported 5 years ago new management was brought in and that zinc prices began dropping slightly. The company, Boliden (pronounced buh-LEE-din), unilaterally announced ‘temporary’ indefinitel layoffs to all but mine maintenance last Tuesday evening while some miners were still working underground. The layoffs are supposed to start on 14 June. Since then workers have seen their fellow workers lining up to talk to social welfare workers at clinics arranged on site and have been trying to make sense of the company’s silence about when jobs would be coming back and what the real underlying reasons are.
FRUSTRATION AND ACTION
One worker said their spouse and a parent worked at the facility which has been operating for almost 50 years. The workers stressed that the company does not want to sell but fear the Boliden’s new management may want to cut the numbers and solidarity of staff who have a hugely profitable facility which families rely on. In fact Boliden knows of massive zinc reserves just a few kilometers away which they are mining towards.
Workers’ frustration with the company’s announcement of mass open-ended layoffs for all but mine integrity and maintenance functions starting on Friday 14 June sparked the decision by workers to blockade the entrances Wednesday at 6pm. The blockade includes the railway on which sits cars loaded with over a 1.8 million euro of ore which was ready to ship this morning. This shipment was and remains blockaded by workers standing in solidarity with each other and not going in to work today until answers are provided.
The blockade was visited by SIPTU, Unite and Connect trade union officials. All have members in Boliden. Over the morning, impromptu 4 mass meetings with respective members and then all-in all-worker meetings happened (see photos). The decision for workers is how to advance together and get the best outcome for all the workers. The company is profitable. It has a huge prospects locally. There is no absolute need for job cuts and hence the indefinite layoffs not job cuts. The most immediate decision is whether to maintain the workers very effective but unofficial action- something the union officials have no say in.
THE WORKERS MUST MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD
It’s the workers’ power on display here. If workers end the blockade today*, it will be difficult to resurrect that power before the cliffedge of next Friday. Boliden has taken a second unilateral step: they now claim they won’t meet with union officials until the blockade is over. This means Boliden are unilaterally calling for unneccessary layoffs, without showing their accounts, without flexibility on the layoff date, and without engaging with union officials who are absolutely open to talking.
It’s no wonder the workers are seeing through the idea that the WRC is the only process. The WRC process looks very constructed to assist the employer and muffle workers’ voices. It leaves all practical considerations of this situation out: the constructed deadlines, the employer’s secrecy, the workers’ and unions’ hostage-like position.
SOLIDARITY
The workers should stick together. They should stay out on the blockade if they see unofficial action as the most practical hope for effective talks. When the opportunity comes they should ballot for industrial action and get guarantees to keep this vital resource open. The mine and the proven discoveries that are in the area remain untapped. The work is there. And the resources will be needed to build the clean green future we need for future generations. The workers have all the power in their hands. People Before Profit are with them.
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*Update 7 July 2023:
Workers held the blockade all night and are continuing at least until conciliation talks conclude at the Workplace Relations Commmission today. Boliden withdrew its precondition demand for an end to the blockade last night. Unions met with Boliden today in the WRC in Dublin.
