Question-and-Answer Session
Operator
Thank you sir. (Operator instructions). And our first question will come from the line of John Ridges with JP Morgan. Please go ahead.
Francis McAllister
Hi John.
Ankush Garg
Hi Frank this is Ankush on behalf of John, congratulations on the results.
Francis McAllister
Thank you Ankush.
Ankush Garg
Frank was any production during the quarter lost due to the negotiation at east boulder at all or?
Francis McAllister
Not that we would be able to measure. Were there discussion and comments that were going on amongst the workforce during that period of time, of course that always have and John that perhaps lead to some loss of production. Perhaps the first – there is nothing that we could measure. The second quarter was a reduction in production that east boulder in the second quarter was really related more to operating issues and the reduced work force than it was to the negotiations.
Ankush Garg
Okay. And then just to get some thoughts Greg did elaborate a lot on the steps and initiatives you’re taking in the mines, but – looking forward into ’09 how should we see the labor situation??
Francis McAllister
Labor situation in ’09 will be quite steady, we entered into a full year contract at east boulder this year and a full year contract at Stillwater and a metallurgical complex a year ago so that – we still have several years to run and it should be quite stable. That is as with negotiations. Now, that’s not as with respect to attrition and our training program and Greg has talked about that, we continue to work and focus on our training program, and obviously the effort is then to stand both the attrition rate but also to grow our work force.
Ankush Garg
So, any sort of time lines you have in terms of the training program?
Francis McAllister
Let me have Greg speak to this.
Greg Struble
Hi Ankush this is Greg. We think the training program is going to take some time, its going to take really a closer look in terms of how we can make it better. I think to kind of answer your question in terms of overall projections, we are seeing actually nice reduction in the attrition rate in Stillwater mine, that is somewhat offset by what we saw happened at the Stillwater mine. I think it is fair to say that we’re going to hold a lot of these levels in the next year or so and then really focus on how we can better engage and deploy mine as they come out of training.
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