The Forests Minister has confirmed Forestry SA is looking to cut an estimated 95 jobs over two years in regional areas. Sources: Adelaide Now, News.com.au, The Advertiser
“They were saying they needed to do this to have a leaner operation and to reduce costs and to be able to better deliver their requirements to OneFortyOne, the private company that has contacted Forestry SA to continue to do the work out in the forests,” Forests Minister Leon Bignell.
“We are not going to back away from any of the commitments we have made over the years to the people of the south-east of South Australia and to the forestry industry.
“Forestry SA obviously has a view that they want to reduce the workforce here by 45 staff next year and 50 the year after to save between $8.5-9 million,” he said.
The minister said he plans to meet the forestry workers’ union, the CFMEU, to hear its concerns.
Forestry SA has declined to comment.
The Construction, Forestry, Mining, Energy Union official Brad Coates also met with Mr Bignell.
He said the union was angry at Forestry SA’s proposal.
“The feeling out there is still one of anger. A lot of our members are pretty angry and the union is pretty angry as well. It’s ridiculous that this issue keeps coming up all the time,” Mr Coates said.
“The government has reduced the redundancy entitlements for a public sector employee, dropping the (maximum) level of redundancies from 116 weeks down to 52 weeks, so if these redundancies go ahead they would only be entitled to half of what they would currently,” he said.
The cuts would affect workers in SA’s south-east and mid-north, and in the Adelaide Hills.
Opposition spokesman David Ridgway accused the Labor government of breaking a pre-election promise.
“Labor’s deception regarding the security of jobs for Forestry SA workers began in late 2011 and continued until today – just one month after the state election,” he said.
