Union attacks cement firm over cuts to jobs

Andrew Mathieson
UNIONS have slammed a Geelong cement producer for leaving its workers facing uncertain futures despite promising they would escape sackings before Christmas.
Australian Workers Union organiser Gavin Penn said Blue Circle Southern Cement would reveal the extent of job cuts at its Waurn Ponds plant this week as union bosses ran protest meetings for workers to express their anger.
Mr Penn said the company had left workers in the dark after telling them their jobs were secure for this year at least.
“They have been totally secretive about it,” he said.
He accused Blue Circle management of rejecting meetings with unions so they could keep members informed.
“The consultation with the unions have been somewhat appalling,” Mr Penn said.
“They’ve indicated the last couple of weeks that they are not prepared to sit down and talk to us.
“We had a mass meeting last Friday morning, which has forced their hand.”
Mr Penn said Blue Circle had employed up to 300 workers in Geelong but staff levels had shrunk to barely 100 before the latest redundancies.
Blue Circle “clearly” had issues honouring promised redundancy packages, he said.
“We have had a package in place for a fair amount of time and the company is now disputing whether that should apply or not.”
A general economic downturn has been blamed for the job losses but Mr Penn said the company had also used Federal Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme as an excuse.
“I should remind them that the AWU has negotiated hard with the Government to get some discounts on carbon emissions,” Mr Penn said.
“The end of the day, do you think they are going to thank us for it?”
Blue Circle works manager Ian Campbell did not return the Independent’s calls before the paper went to press.
The new cuts were a further blow to Geelong manufacturing after Alcoa last Friday announced it would make redundant 90 jobs at its Point Henry rolling plant.
Alcoa said the “restructure” was a result of a 35 per cent reduction in volumes.
Geelong Manufacturing Council executive officer David Peart blamed “market forces” for the latest job losses.
The Independent went to press before Blue Circle revealed how many staff would lose their jobs.