COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

Miners cast aside with the closure of Coventry and Warwickshire’s last pit claim they are now being “shafted” over redundancy payments.


Dave Meuse outside Daw Mill

Despairing workers who lost their jobs with the closure of Daw Mill Colliery, near Fillongley, are facing a new fight – to get their full entitlement.

The pit was shut down last month after a massive underground fire, putting 400 miners out of work.

Dave Meuse, who worked at Daw Mill Colliery for 39 years and is union branch secretary, said: “It looks like we could end up with half of our entitlements.

“Our contractual terms are not being honoured because the pit owners UK Coal say they cannot afford it.

“We have been told the situation may change if the insurance money comes through, but this is just not good enough.

“Basically, we are being offered an IOU – and IOUs don’t pay the bills.”

Before the fire six weeks ago, the mine’s future was already in question, although things had begun to improve and there were signs of optimism.

“We accept that the fire was a big one. But it is difficult to accept the decision to immediately call it a day,” said Mr Meuse.

“There is a still a huge amount of good quality coal, in thick seams, at Daw Mill and I’ve got lots of blokes willing to risk their lives in an attempt to get the pit back in action. Obviously, safety is paramount but the area affected by the fire could be sealed.

“Sadly, UK Coal just don’t want to know. The decision has been taken that Daw Mill will not re-open and there are already firms tendering to dismantle the head gear. Once that happens, the pit will be finished for good.

“The workforce have gone from feeling shock and anger to being in absolute despair. We’ve been dumped on the scrapheap, it’s as simple as that.

“To make matters worse, we are now being shafted over what is due to us in redundancy money.”

Mr Meuse added: “Around 70 men have been offered jobs at other pits, although some of them are already facing being laid off.