Mosaic starts layoffs at Hardee mine

MANATEE — Mosaic cut 140 employees from its South Fort Meade mine staff today as a result of the pending closure at the 10,885-acre tract.

The phosphate mining company attempted to get permission for limited mining on 200 acres at the Hardee County site after a federal judge on July 30 placed an injunction on mining operations.

Mosaic’s request for limited mining of the uplands would have provided an additional four to five months of work for employees, said Russell Schweiss, spokesman for Mosaic.

However, Schweiss said the denial requires the company to move forward with closing its mine.

“Today we told 140 of our employees they do not need to return to work,” Schweiss said.

Mosaic in July filed a conditional layoff notice with the state warning it would have to layoff up to 221 employees by Sept. 12 if the court ruled to place an injunction on mining operations.

Mosaic’s request for limited mining required approval from the Sierra Club, Inc., Manasota-88, Inc. and People for Protecting Peace River, Inc. The environmental groups denied that request.

“They essentially said ‘No way,’” Schweiss said. “They are simply saying, no we’re not going to go for that when it would save potential 200 jobs. It seems unreasonable and uncompromising.”

The 140 employees will be paid by Mosaic through Sept. 12, the original deadline the company planned for layoffs. The remaining 81 employees, Schweiss said, will have about two to three weeks left to work in preparing the mine for closure.