Underground craft workers at Tara Mines in Navan, Co Meath voted yesterday to accept a package of proposals to guarantee the company's survival.
The craft workers, members of the AEUW and TEEU, had been scheduled to make a decision on the proposals on Tuesday but deferred a vote pending clarification on such issues as Sunday working from the company.
The craftsmen wanted more details of the impact the introduction of ten-and-a-half hour shifts underground at the mine would have on their work schedule. Miners who are members of SIPTU had already voted to accept the proposals.
Tara Mines employs about 110 craftsmen in fitter, electrician and carpenter positions but only 46 of these took part in the ballot yesterday.
Of those, 27 were in favour and 19 against the proposals. This group comprises craftsmen who work on mobile equipment maintenance and repair underground at the mine.
Tara Mines' board of directors met on Wednesday. It was scheduled to consider making a recommendation to the company's owners to approve over £30 million in funding for development of a valuable unexploited section of the ore body. However, this was deferred as the industrial relations issues had not been fully concluded.