Trade union Solidarity today said it would not allow Barbrook Mine, which has recently been put under business rescue, to follow in the footsteps of Lily Mine, its sister mine. This comes after Solidarity this week met with Barbrook’s business rescue practitioner (BRP) about the Barbrook situation.

According to Connie Prinsloo, Solidarity’s deputy general secretary of the mining industry, the trade union expressed its dismay at the meeting over the way in which matters had been dealt with at Lily Mine last year. Solidarity also requested that the Barbrook BRP provide more clarity on procedures to be followed as part of the business rescue process at Barbrook, which had not been done in the case of Lily Mine.

“Solidarity is concerned about the financial and emotional well-being of employees as they are being profoundly affected by this process and it therefore appealed to the mine’s creditors to show the necessary empathy and by showing leniency given the situation,” Prinsloo explained.

“The BRP is of the opinion that an investor for Barbrook would soon be found. He also indicated that a turnaround strategy for the mine would be included in the business rescue plan which would, among other things, outline how production could be increased at Barbrook,” Prinsloo said.

According to Prinsloo, the trade union alerted the BRP to the fact that similar promises had been made during Lily Mine’s Business Rescue Process, which however, never materialised. “Solidarity will communicate with the Barbrook BRP on an ongoing basis to ensure that the interests of the employees are looked after,” Prinsloo said.

The BRP indicated that the business rescue plan would be announced either on or before 11 February 2017.

Issued by Solidarity