Monday 26th October 2015
Bluescope’s announcement this morning, that steelmaking will continue in Port Kembla, has been welcomed by the Australian Workers’ Union, which has praised the courageous vision of its members in securing the result.
The Bluescope board have issued a statement to the ASX citing “game-changing cost-out” commitments from workers and staff as key to the decision.
Earlier this month, AWU members employed at Port Kembla steelworks decided in a mass meeting to accept temporary freezes to pay and a limited job cuts, in order to secure the survival of steelmaking in the region.
A formal ballot on the new enterprise agreement is likely to be held in coming weeks.
AWU National Secretary Scott McDine said the sacrifice of Port Kembla workers should be acknowledged - and remembered.
“Steelmaking in Port Kembla owes its survival to the courageous and long-sighted decision taken by workers to accept sacrifice today for viability tomorrow,” Mr McDine said.
“However, we note that although Bluescope’s steelmaking in Port Kembla may have been stretched to breaking point, the company overall is now expecting strong EBIT growth.
“And while the pay freeze accepted by workers is for a three-year period, the bonus freeze lasts only until the end of the current financial year. If profitability continues to climb, Port Kembla workers should be at the front of the queue for bonuses to reflect that."
AWU Port Kembla branch secretary Wayne Phillips said the commitment shown by workers needed to be matched by their elected representatives.
“The sacrifice of workers has secured the survival of steelmaking in Port Kembla and that’s a very good thing,” he said.
“But the long-term future of our industry depends on our governments showing some steel themselves and standing up to anti-competitive dumping practices that are prevalent in this country.
“Australian governments need to follow the example of other developed nations like the USA which ensure their steel industry is supported through government procurement and strict anti-dumping measures.”
Bluescope’s announcement this morning, that steelmaking will continue in Port Kembla, has been welcomed by the Australian Workers’ Union, which has praised the courageous vision of its members in securing the result.
The Bluescope board have issued a statement to the ASX citing “game-changing cost-out” commitments from workers and staff as key to the decision.
Earlier this month, AWU members employed at Port Kembla steelworks decided in a mass meeting to accept temporary freezes to pay and a limited job cuts, in order to secure the survival of steelmaking in the region.
A formal ballot on the new enterprise agreement is likely to be held in coming weeks.
AWU National Secretary Scott McDine said the sacrifice of Port Kembla workers should be acknowledged - and remembered.
“Steelmaking in Port Kembla owes its survival to the courageous and long-sighted decision taken by workers to accept sacrifice today for viability tomorrow,” Mr McDine said.
“However, we note that although Bluescope’s steelmaking in Port Kembla may have been stretched to breaking point, the company overall is now expecting strong EBIT growth.
“And while the pay freeze accepted by workers is for a three-year period, the bonus freeze lasts only until the end of the current financial year. If profitability continues to climb, Port Kembla workers should be at the front of the queue for bonuses to reflect that."
AWU Port Kembla branch secretary Wayne Phillips said the commitment shown by workers needed to be matched by their elected representatives.
“The sacrifice of workers has secured the survival of steelmaking in Port Kembla and that’s a very good thing,” he said.
“But the long-term future of our industry depends on our governments showing some steel themselves and standing up to anti-competitive dumping practices that are prevalent in this country.
“Australian governments need to follow the example of other developed nations like the USA which ensure their steel industry is supported through government procurement and strict anti-dumping measures.”
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