Some Linmine workers opt for voluntary termination
Stabroek News
November 17, 2002
A number of Linden Mining Enterprise (Linmine) workers have already exercised their option to be voluntarily separated and should begin receiving their termination benefits shortly.
Linmine's Chief Executive Officer Horace James told Stabroek News that about 140 workers from the companies 1200-plus workforce have opted for voluntarily termination ahead of the planned take-over of the operations by the Cambior, the Canadian mining company and parent company of Omai Gold Mines Limited (OMGL). He said, "The workers wanted to get on with their lives."
When it takes over the Linmine operations, Cambior will switch to the use of trucks and backhoes for the stripping and mining activities. This will require far fewer workers than the present methods being used by Linmine and consume far less power.
Ahead of the takeover, James confirmed that arrangements were being put in place for a December start-up of a mining and stripping contract to be undertaken by OMGL. He said that the final details of the contract were still being worked on. He could not say how many of the 300 workers employed in this area would be hired by OMGL.
GMMU General Secretary Augustus Andrews, told Stabroek News that he expected that some of the workers would be hired by OMGL but was not in position to say how many.
Like James, he said that the equipment to be used to do the mining and stripping would require far fewer workers than the dragline and bucket wheel at present in use at Linmine.
James said too that until the contract with Omai was finalised the workers would continue with Linmine and by agreement with Linmine and government, would continue to work for one month after the contract was signed.
He told this newspaper that the period would give the union time to settle a number of issues with the Linmine management and the government related to pension benefits, vacation pay and the education grant for 2003.
James said too that a number of important activities were underway in preparation for the take-over. One of these activities was work relating to the environment.
Stabroek News understands that under the restructuring plan the government would be responsible for past environmental liabilities and the restructured Linmine would execute environmental reclamation that would be paid for from an environmental trust fund.
