Michael O’Connor CFMEU
CFMEU boss Michael O’Connor has warned that Victoria’s timber industry is in crisis and has urged the Andrews Government and mill owners to work together with the union. Source: Herald Sun
Mr O’Connor’s call for unity comes as 200 workers remain locked out of the Myrtleford mill over an industrial dispute, and the owners of the Heyfield mill announcing that they will begin closing in August.
The Myrtleford mill’s owner, Carter Holt Harvey, locked out its workers two months ago after they began protected industrial action including work stoppages. The CFMEU has now gone back to the Fair Work Commission in an attempt to get the company back to the negotiating table.
“They have no empathy for their workforce and the regional areas that are battling for employment,” Mr O’Connor, the CFMEU’s national secretary, said.
“Normally when an industry is going through a tough time employers and the unions should be working together, but that is not happening, which isn’t helping this crisis.”
Carter Holt Harvey also announced last month it would close its Morwell mill, leaving 160 workers jobless, because of a lack of timber supply. It comes as Australian Sustainable Hardwoods is set to begin redundancies at its Heyfield mill, which employs about 260 workers, in August.
“We continue to call upon the government and the employer to carry out productive discussions and see if they can carry out a sale,” Mr O’Connor said.
“But there needs to be a discussion about timber supply. A sawlog mill is no good without sawlogs.”
