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120 workers at the Huntly East Coal Mine
found out today who gets to stay and who goes.
Solid Energy is slashing jobs in Huntly and on the West Coast,
due to a worldwide drop in demand for coal.
It's a decision that's cut deep into the small Waikato community.
It's nerve-wracking waiting for a letter confirming your employment.
60 miners are waiting for a letter that will tell them
if they still have their jobs.
Huntly miners patiently await for letters.
The time now is 2pm and they have yet to arrive.
The letters were due before midday.
Keeping your job comes down to achieving a 160 level of competency.
Miners below that level should be concerned.
Hopefully those without a job will find employment in Australia.
I'll be travelling to Sydney
in two weeks to meet with
the Rio Tinto mining company, where we will discuss
potential job options for our miners over there.
Regardless of what lies ahead for these miners,
the choices don't make things any easier
on whether they stay or go.
Potaka Maipi, Te Karere.