 Kellingley is due to take some miners from the Selby pits |
Miners at a West Yorkshire colliery have called off two planned 24-hour strikes. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it suspended industrial action while it seeks a High Court injunction against UK Coal.
The company wants to introduce new working practices at Kellingley when miners are transferred there as the Selby complex closes.
Stoppages were due to have been held on Thursday and next Monday.
Legal action
The NUM called a 24-hour walkout on Monday 8 March which, according to the union, was supported by all its 350 members at Kellingley.
Branch secretary Chris Kitchen has described the UK Coal proposals as "anti-social" and argues they would result in men working 12-hour shifts in "hostile conditions" underground.
UK Coal spokesman Stuart Oliver said it only intended to make machines work harder, not the men
He confirmed the company will contest any legal action.
"Nobody will be asked to work any more hours than they do at the moment," he said. "In fact some will work less."
The NUM says it may still take strike action on Thursday 18 March, depending on the progress of legal proceedings.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
