Miners protest over no pay rise

WORKERS at a Kilkenny-based mining company began industrial action last night over claims the company has still not instituted pay increases due since July 2006.

The 40 craft workers, members of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU), are still working their shifts at the Galmoy Zinc and Lead Mine but have said they will not work any overtime or respond to call-ins for the company.

A further 105 workers from SIPTU are also threatening action against the company if it fails to address their grievances through the mediation of the Labour Court. Both the unions claim the company has not instituted pay rises which it said it would put in place by July 2006. As a result both say their members are being paid significantly below the appropriate industry rate.

SIPTU has said the basic pay for its members is as little as 22,000, 8% below the industry norm. It has also expressed fears that there may be as little as four years work left in the mine.

Galmoy and SIPTU submitted their respective motions to the Labour Court on June 5, 2007.

A recommendation from the Labour Court regarding the pay increase for the SIPTU members is expected by July 5, 2007. If there is no resolution as a result of that recommendation the union is expected to join the TEEU in industrial action.

The mine produces 70,000 metric tons of zinc and 19,000 tons of lead. It employs 225 workers though 85 are not unionised.