Salt miners vow to work flat out during the big freeze
11th January 2010
Unite members at Britain's biggest mine have today (11th
January) vowed to continue battling into work in icy conditions
above ground and Saharan temperatures underneath to produce salt to
keep Britain moving through the big freeze.
The workers at Cleveland Potash in North Yorkshire, Britain's
biggest mine and the deepest mine in the western hemisphere, are
battling into work in sub-zero temperatures and then digging vital
supplies of salt over one mile underground, using heavy machinery
in strata temperatures of 43 degrees centigrade.
Many sacrificed much of their Christmas break to step up salt
supplies.
The mine operates 24 hours a day, with the miners working nine and
a half hour shifts, carrying six litres of ice for refreshment, as
drinking water quickly becomes as hot as tea. Cleveland Potash
produces an average of 10,000 tonnes of salt a day which is then
crushed and graded by Unite members working on the surface before
being dispatched to local authorities across the country for use on
roads.
John Chilton, Unite convenor at Cleveland Potash said: "Unite
members at Britain's biggest salt mine are 100 per cent committed.
They are travelling to work in Arctic weather, but working flat out
in Saharan temperatures to mine the salt which keeps Britain's
roads and pavements safe. Many of the workers have already
sacrificed much of their Christmas holiday when the mine is
normally closed for production and some were even at work on
Christmas day."
Tony Woodley Unite, joint general secretary said: "There are
workers across the country working to keep Britain running through
the big freeze. All too often their efforts are overlooked. These
miners are just one example of the dedication shown by workers to
keep the British people warm and safe during the big freeze."
Cleveland Potash employs 600 workers at the mine in North
Yorkshire
ENDS
For more information please contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931
315
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