Salt Miners Vow to Work Flat Out During the Big Freeze

Attention: news, business and social affairs correspondents

LONDON, January 11 - Unite the union members at Britain's biggest mine have today (11th
January) vowed to continue battling into work in icy conditions above ground
and work in 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 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 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

For more information please contact Ciaran Naidoo on +44(0)7768-931-315