Manager defends, Strongman mine

Press, 25 January 1986, Page 8

Manager defends, Strongman mine

Problems at the Strongman mine, the last state colliery in the Grey area, are not insoluble, says the manager, Mr Barry Smith. The general manager of State Coal Mines, Dr Roger Blakely, has proposed closing the mine because of the high losses, in line with the Ministry of Energy’s policy of making all its concerns profitable. Suggestions have been made from 'Wellington that absenteeism and days off for whitebaiting have added to the problems of the mine, which employs over 200. Mr Smith said yesterday that the Runanga State Miners Union was prepared to discuss the call for increasing production from the mine. But the issue was also one for the supervisory staff and members of the Public Service Association, who were employed as deputyshotfirers and underground managers (underviewers). Mr Smith agreed that

the basic coal producers, the 28 miners at the “face” cutting the coal, were actually contractors, and any absenteeism on their behalf meant that they did not get paid. “The problem is that when someone does not turn up for work, there has to be a reshuffle. On the face, it means that a “floater” has to be moved up from the general main- / tenance crew, and that in < turn means other work / cannot be carried out” ■ “We have to carry; about 20 additional staff' members to ensure suffi-; cient cover in all facets,” said Mr Smith. “If everyone turned up, we wouldn’t need the extra.” Some persons did take an occasional day off for whitebaiting but it was insignificant and in line with employees of other Industry, he said. No reason had to be given for missing work. “Under the national agreement a worker has only to ring up and ;say that he won’t be coming in. | -

“If we don’t hear from them for nine days, we send a letter , issuing a warning. If that doesn’t’ bring a response, they get a further letter within three days, suspending them,” said Mr Smith.A The question of miners being allowed up to 10 tonnes of coal a year, alacost of little more than 1 * 'dollar a tonne, would tie discussed with the union, he said. But the problem was that the concession was wide-spread. In a long-standing tradition, aU retired miners from other now defunct pits in the area, such as Dobson, Wallsend, Liverpool and Blackball, were entitled to cheap coal;' Widows of miners were entitled: to six tonnes ? a year at a reduced rate. ' Because Strongman was the only remaining State mine, it was the only' supplier of these concessions, said Mr Smith. The president of the Runanga State Miners Union, Mr Tony Mangan could not be reached fbr comment yesterday.