Workers accept deal to reopen Tara Mines

Workers at Tara Mines have voted to accept a deal aimed at reopening the mine.

Counting of a ballot of workers began shortly after 10am at the Dan Shaw Centre in Navan, Co Meath this morning.

Around 600 workers were temporarily laid off last July after the mine was placed under care and maintenance.

Workers from all three unions at the mine – SIPTU, Unite and Connect – voted in favour of the deal brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission.

The deal is expected to see a phased reopening of the mine from June.

Unions said that the core pay and conditions of workers at the zinc mine outside Navan had been protected under the deal, however there were some losses.

Under the terms of the deal, the company Boliden is also seeking around 150 voluntary redundancies.