26 May 2015

Stockton workers to be given job loss details

11:13 am on 26 May 2015

An announcement is imminent about jobs at the Stockton coal mine near Westport.

Mine's owner Solid Energy said earlier this month it was axing 151 jobs to save costs, and a decision on which jobs will go is expected today.

Huge trucks move high-grade coal from a stockpile at the Stockton Mine near Westport.

A file photo from 2009 shows trucks moving high-grade coal from a stockpile at Stockton Mine. Photo: 123RF

A Solid Energy spokesman would not say what the company would tell workers but it is understood it will announce which positions will be cut and give workers a week to provide feedback.

The spokesman said the company may issue a public statement later in the day.

The cuts involve 110 redundancies and 41 other positions currently vacant being left that way.

Solid Energy chief executive Dan Clifford said the job losses, along with scaled-back production at the mine, would reduce annual costs by $36 million.

Six jobs at the state-owned company's Spring Creek mine, near Greymouth, would also be cut.

Workers attend today's meeting at the Stockton mine.

Workers attending a meeting in Westport on 7 May announcing job losses at Stockton Mine. Photo: RNZ / Georgina Stylianou

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