The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has launched a radio advertising campaign over fears 1000 timber industry jobs are at risk in South Australia. The CFMEU said that high log prices are threatening the viability of local operations. Sources: AAP, Business Spectator, Adelaide Now, the Australian
Carter Holt Harvey warned its operations would close unless it can negotiate a better deal, although the state government says it is working on an assistance package for the company. Two assistance packages have already been put to the company but rejected.
CFMEU official Brad Coates said the union’s radio campaign will urge South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill to rethink the one-off payment to Carter Holt Harvey and focus instead on addressing the issue of log pricing.
“If we don’t apply pressure on the South Australian government to lower log prices we could lose a whole industry and thousands of jobs with it,” Mr Coates said.
“The easy approach is simply to throw money at Carter Holt Harvey and hope they don’t pull out of the state. But that’s a temporary reprieve at best, because it does nothing to address the root problem.
“If we don’t apply pressure on the State Government to lower log prices we could lose a whole industry and thousands of jobs with it.
“The Government wants to claim they have washed their hands of the responsibility to act on log prices because they have agreed to sell ForestrySAs’ rights to a private consortium. But the fact is there is still plenty of time to act they just dont want to.”
Last week CFMEU workers at Carter Holt Harvey went on strike for 24 hours over the issue of log pricing and the future viability of the company.
