Tasmanian Forest Contractors Association: No breach of Statement of Principles

“TFCA has checked with forestry Companies who have advertised for harvesting and haulage contractors. We have been assured that no contractors have been engaged that are not part of the existing industry workforce. Furthermore, we have been assured that there is no intention to do so.”
Forest management companies have emphasised that the advertisements seeking contractors were designed to attract existing forest contractors who are being displaced by the down turn in the woodchip market. They have agreed to withdraw these advertisements and are working with TFCA for a more appropriate method for contacting these businesses.
I cannot conceive that anyone would argue against offering on-going work to contractors that are, or will be displaced through no fault of their own and who are either not interested in a buy out package or were unsuccessful in seeking such a package, Mr Vincent continued.
Contractors are understandably unsettled because the inadequately funded Federal Government exit assistance package did not allow all those contractors who wished to leave the industry sector to do so with dignity.
Rumours have surfaced over the last few days and appear to be based on the relocation of some existing contractors to regions where they have not previously worked. “In all cases that have been brought to my attention, previously existing contractural arrangements were in place, prior to the Statement of Principles, and in one case extending back eleven years.” Mr Vincent said.
TFCA has no evidence that any new player has been brought into the industry since the Statement of principles was signed in October last year, Mr Vincent said, but it is entirely appropriate and in fact desirable for forest managers with harvesting work available to offer that work to those in the industry who are being hardest hit by the current restructuring processes.
These rumours are unhelpful and must not be permitted to destabilise the current negotiations, facilitated by Bill Kelty. We must be mindful of the facts, not rumour in this process Mr Vincent said.