The new deal follows months of debate, discussion and union wrangling, with the majority of Maltby’s 300-man workforce finally accepting the need for new shift patterns.
The new shift system will be based on four teams working a four-week cycle averaging 38 working hours a week. The aim is to work equipment on a single face up to 120 hours a week, maximising machine available time.
Flexi-working is expected to help the mine qualify for assistance under the Government’s new £60 million Investment Aid Scheme. Energy Minister Brian Wilson has warned that aid would be directed at viable pits using modern working practices.
“This is a significant milestone for Maltby and for the coal industry,” said UK Coal chief executive Gordon McPhie.
“We will be doing what many other industries and service personnel have been doing for years. Flexible working can make a significant difference to our performance; it will enable us to get more out of our expensive infrastructure and machinery without anyone having to work more hours.”
A small number of redundancies are necessary as a result of the switch to single face working, though more jobs have been retained as a result of four-team working to cover the new shift cycle.
