More than four hundred SIPTU workers at Tara Mines have this evening accepted a survival package, which secures the future of the 650-job plant. Miners voted by 102 to fifteen in favour of the package, while other SIPTU workers voted by 82 to 29 in favour. Earlier, the three craft unions at the mine also accepted the formula. The board of Tara Mines is to meet tomorrow and is expected to endorse the proposals worked out over the past four days.
The plan was agreed at half past six this morning, by representatives of the union and the employers' organisation, IBEC, who have been negotiating for the past three days. It is still unclear if the proposals will be accepted by the management. The mine is due to close this weekend, unless a solution is found to the dispute over the company's cost-cutting plan.
