By Hamish Clark
Miners at Spring Creek could be put to work on the Christchurch rebuild in an effort to help save their jobs.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce says it is one of the options Solid Energy is investigating after suspending operations at the West Coast mine, placing the livelihoods of 230 workers in jeopardy.
“They have talked about taking some of the workforce, if they are keen, over to Christchurch in the short term, and be contracted to work on the rebuild over there,” he says. “They will talk to the union and see if that fits.”
Grey District Mayor Tony Kokshoorn says it is an option he has been discussing with his Christchurch counterpart.
“Bob Parker and I have been working on this for the last four days and it is a very real possibility,” he says. “The families will still be on the West Coast, we can ship them across there on a weekly basis so they will stay here.”
The miners were suspended on full pay after the Spring Creek Mine was shut down last week. Mr Kokshoorn says that Solid Energy CEO Don Elder has admitted the company made mistakes.
“He said, 'We have made a few errors and we need to correct those,' and one of those errors is making sure that we look after the loyal work force they had, and that is exactly where they are moving now,” he says.
The workers will remain on full pay for until a decision is made, which is not expected for another four-to-six weeks.
3 News