Another Chance For

The Emperor Mine

The Emperor gold mine at Vatukoula, Fiji, reopened in the first week in March, about two weeks after the board of Emperor Mines Ltd decided to close it. The board closed the mine rather than bow to union pressure for a wage rise from 98c to $1.50 an hour, and further fringe benefits in addition to the many mine workers and their families already enjoy.

The Fiji Government, which has given the mine a lot of assistance in recent years, including direct subsi dies and tax concessions, was con cerned that about 8,000 people, in cluding the miners, would be adver sely affected by the closure.

A special committee appointed by the government negotiated with the Emperor board. The talks resulted in the government agreeing to make “certain moneys” available to Em peror Gold Mining Co Ltd, the Em peror Mines operating subsidiary at Vatukoula, to offset losses for the next 28 months. The amount will not exceed $2 million.

Under the agreement, mine workers already paid off were to be re-employed.

The closure was barely a month after the board decided to keep the mine going for the time being as a “calculated risk”. The mine has been in difficulties several times in the last 20 years and has received

assistance from the government.

The latest government aid included an interest-free loan, waiving of un paid income tax and the remaining balance of a government loan made under a 1971 agreement (PIM, March, p 49).

Soon after the board made this decision the union made its demand.

The company had given away to union demands, which were of a “stand and deliver” nature, several times in recent years. It lost money through the strikes.

The latest demand was made in spite of an agreement to waive claims till the mine was again on a solid footing.

About 1,300 miners, from the in terior of Viti Levu, and outer is lands of Rotuma, Lomaiviti, Lau and the Yasawas and their families were affected. They were enjoying many fringe benefits such as cheap housing and electricity, free water, garbage collection, subsidised medi cal services, education and am bulance services.

There were entertainment halls, a library and cinema, sports grounds and a new grandstand and help for the churches. There were credit facilities at supermarkets, clubs and co-ops and long service leave and travel allowances after 10 years’ ser vice, repeated after every five years of additional service.