Nearly 700 workers at Tara Mines in Navan Co Meath have been put on protective notice in a row over cost-cutting measures.
Management at the company said workers have until January 19th to accept a deal or face redundancy.
Boliden AB the Swedish company that owns Tara blamed the drop in the price of metals along with the weakening dollar as the cause of the company’s problems.
Siptu say management at Europe’s largest zinc mine is proposing to substantially reduce productivity related earnings and revise shift patterns.
This morning Siptu’s National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said since the company made its decision before Christmas the price of zinc has improved.
He said: “We will be seeking clarification from the company about why it still needs the changes, given the improved trading environment.
“If the company goes ahead with its proposal to put the mine on a care and maintenance basis from January 19th this will have a terrible impact on the economy of County Meath.
“Besides the 700 workers and their families directly affected if the lay-offs go ahead there will be three jobs affected downstream for every worker laid off at Tara Mines.”
The union will hold a meeting for its members at the Ardboyne Hotel later this evening to discuss the situation.
Local Fine Gael TD Damien English called on both sides to “go all out” to reach a compromise.
He said: “The fact remains that Tara Mines will eventually exhaust all the available resources in the area and has a limited lifespan so it is vital that we maximise the number of jobs currently available at the mine.
“The worst case scenario would be for the mines to close when the zinc and lead on which it depends is still available.”
Labour’s Liz McManus said the mine's closure would be “disastrous” for the local economy.
She said: "No stone must be left unturned by the company and by representatives of the workers to ensure that mining can continue.
“The Government and the various relevant state agencies must also make themselves available to get involved in the process so that the operation can continue.”
Sinn Fein's Arthur Morgan urged management to reopen talks with union leaders to reach a compromise on a new working regime. "Management at the company should immediately lift the protective notice and recommence negotiations with union officials," the Louth TD said.
"This stand-off, which has been created by the management, will not lead to a resolution of this dispute. If the company's management does not respond quickly to lift the protective
notice, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mary Coughlan) must
intervene."