SIPTU has called on the Government to ensure that new high quality jobs are created in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary, following the agreed wind down of operations at the local mine. SIPTU Organiser, John Regan, said: “Our union has been fully involved in the orderly closure of the mine which will occur in October 2015 due to the recoverable ore at site being exhausted.“Voluntary redundancy terms were agreed with the company for our members in 2009 and 2010. SIPTU and the associated IDEAS Institute were also at the forefront of setting up of an excellent outplacement training programme for workers to prepare them for the mine’s eventual closure. This training will assist our members to secure future employment”. He added: “SIPTU is calling on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to immediately instruct the IDA and other relevant agencies to seek an alternative employer to set up in the mine buildings, which would provide excellent facilities for a new business. The aim should be to provide the local community with a new source of decent well-paid employment. The gradual wind down to closure of the mine will have a massive negative impact on the local economy if such new jobs are not created”.There are currently 170 SIPTU members working as miners, mill operators and laboratory technicians employed at Lisheen Mine which is a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources PLC.
SIPTU calls for focus on job creation in Lisheen due to mine wind down
