Amid slumping potash prices in an oversupplied market, reports of equipment being moved from the Mosaic’s Colonsay potash mine, which suspended its production operations in September, are causing concern for the union representing laid-off workers. 

Darrin Kruger, staff representative for the United Steelworkers, confirms that the mining company has moved equipment from its Colonsay mine to its Esterhazy operations. Kruger was not able to confirm the exact nature of the move as to whether this would be permanent, but he did verify that work supporting the redeployment of some equipment was happening. 

“They recalled some people to the Colonsay site to disassemble equipment for transport to Esterhazy.”

This information along with media reports are causing employees concern given that the mine was shuttered with no recall dates or firm timeline for return to operations. Kruger knows that the membership sees the writing on the wall.

“Any time you start tearing the business apart and shipping it elsewhere, it certainly creates a lot of anxiety and questioning ‘now what,’ especially with no recall. There is lots of uncertainty and lots of concern about the long-term outlook for this property.”

All the signals point to the conclusion that this will be a lengthy, if not permanent, situation for the Colonsay site. Kruger states that even prior to this latest move, the message has gone out to the affected workers. 

“We have previously communicated to the members that they should not be sitting around waiting for a call back to work, that they should be going out and finding employment. They all have bills to pay and families to look after.”

As expected, Kruger says that the union’s first priority is for the well-being of its members, and to that end, the door to union offices will be open if Mosaic needs to communicate around developments. Kruger also recognizes the wider impact that such events have on regional economies. 

“It’s not just the members, but it’s the communities they live in. When you take out incomes from the communities, everybody suffers.”

Stopping short of suggesting that the mine is closing, Kruger acknowledges that without a recall date, the questions and concern will linger.

Mosaic was contacted but did not provide a response.