THE good years are over at Tara Mines. So said Mr John Kane of SIPTU, which is to meet the company to discuss a voluntary severance package for up to 150 employees.

This would bring the workforce to below 600. A recent analysis of its operations showed that the company's ore grade quality is only 72 per cent of its rivals, while labour costs are higher than in 90 per cent of other operations.

"Unfortunately ore grades are predicted to fall even further," a report by the company states, and hence Tara must reduce its labour cost to be competitive."

For those who do not opt for redundancy, the company is seeking to reduce the overtime bill by two thirds, change bonus structures and introduce new work practices.