Tara miners sit in over safety fears

UNDERGROUND workers at Tara Mines in Co. Meath have been sitting in at the mine for the past five days in a dispute over ambulance communications.

Siptu has confirmed that each shift is protesting at plans to introduce a new radio system for the underground ambulance service, which they believe will not be as safe as the current telephone system.

Underground work is at a standstill.

Siptu said: ‘This is a health-and-safety issue, not an industrial relations issue. There are black spots in the radio coverage underground.’

Boliden Tara Mines was not contactable.