Miners today face redundancy notifications

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 3

Miners today face redundancy notifications

Greymouth reporter and PA

One hundred of the 177 State Coal mines employees, based on the Strongman State coalmine, the Rapahoe bins, and the Dunollie office, will be told today that their services will not be required by the new Coal Corporation.

All of the staff will receive a personally delivered letter to their homes today, either offering them a job or redundancy. All have been given a day’s holiday, so that they can be with their families when the letters arrive. Those made redundant will receive leave on full pay from tomorrow until April 1. The president of the Runanga State Miners’ Union, Mr Tony Mangan, said yesterday that all staff would be asked to attend a meeting on Wednesday. “It seems that the corporation has taken the attitude that once you have been given notice that’s it. I think the workers have a different view and will be looking at all the options at the meeting,” he said.

“There are those who have already decided that they are going, and others are sitting waiting to see whether they get the ‘don’t come Wednesday’ letter,” he said. Unofficial sources suggest to "The Press” that some of those who might

get a letter offering them a job with the corporation have already decided to leave and, in fact, have found other employment.

The Denniston Miners’ Union has moved to ensure that no miners will be available to work the Sullivan and Wharatea mines when the Coal Corporation takes over.

Members of the union turned up at the Coal Corporation’s special information centre in Westport yesterday morning to sign for voluntary redundancy which means they will not be eligible for reemployment by the corporation. The union’s president, Mr Piet Groot, said the move was primarily in support of the policy of their national body, the United Mine Workers Union, of “first on last off.”

The corporation earlier announced that it would select the miners it wanted first on skill, then on their attendance record, and then on length of service.

“We’re very unhappy at the situation. We have a profitable mine but they can’t sell our coal. In six months markets might be there. We should keep the guys on till the markets are found,” Mr Groot said.

The submissions from both groups of miners which were given to the Minister of Energy, Mr Tizard, last week were yesterday referred to the Cabinet Policy Committee.