SUNDAY is to become a regular working day for the first time in the coalmining industry as UK Coal attempts to improve productivity at one of its collieries.

But despite the pioneering deal at Maltby colliery in South Yorkshire, UK Coal has also given warning that it could close the giant Selby complex in North Yorkshire earlier than expected because of poor performance.

The three mines at Selby, which employ more than 2,000 people, had been expected to close next March but Gordon McPhie, the chief executive, has cautioned that there will be a review over the next few weeks to determine how long the mines can last.

Maltby, which employs 450 workers, will begin the first flexible working system in a mine next month after the Nacods union yesterday voted by more than 90 per cent in favour of the deal.

The poll by Nacods, which represents mineworkers’ supervisors, follows a vote in favour of the deal by the general workforce.

UK Coal believes it will be able to get 15 per cent more productivity from the mine and increase its potential working hours to 120 a week.

Sunday will become part of the regular roster for the first time in modern mining history.

Miners at Maltby have previously worked Sunday nights on an ad hoc basis rather than working Friday nights.

UK Coal had warned that Maltby could face closure next year if it did not agree flexible working arrangements.

Next year the mine moves to mining just a single coalface and the company wants to work more hours to maximise production.

Another plan for flexible working at Kellingley colliery in North Yorkshire has been rejected by the National Union of Mineworkers, although UK Coal wants to resurrect the idea, arguing that it will create some 200 jobs which could go to laid-off Selby miners.