Spare a thought for the workers …
Not just all workers, but ordinary workers performing ordinary jobs in what used to be the ordinary Tasmanian forestry industry.
Forestry workers in Tasmania have been ignored in this whole debate over the cessation of native forest logging and the pulp mill at Long Reach.
On the 25th of March, Gunn’s chip mill at Long Reach will close, and many contractors who have been supplying logs to this mill will cease to operate.
Some contractors will move to plantations, others will be compensated to leave the industry.
Some have even been compensated to transfer from native forestry to plantation forestry.
This may be good for contractors and their banks, but there is no compensation for forestry workers.
The transport contractors moving logs between forest contractors and Long Reach aren’t eligible for compensation; and their prime source of income is about to evaporate.
Trucks and log jinkers used for native forests don’t necessarily suit plantation forests. Logging contractors are compensated handsomely to re-equip – transport contractors apparently get nothing.
For example, one forest contractor has been working almost exclusively logging private forests in the Central Highlands. This is not crown land managed by Forestry Tasmania, but private forests logged and then established as plantation –much of it has already been converted to plantation over the past four years.
This contractor trucks all native timber harvested to the Gunns mill at Long Reach. On the 25th of March Long Reach will no longer accept logs, and this contractor will cease to work in native forests.
He has been compensated to the tune of $1.6M.
The transport contractor, his trucks and his truck drivers will have no work – and no compensation.
This forest contractor’s employees have been compensated to the tune of $0.00.
They have no idea of what will happen after the 25th of March – no idea at all.
Imagine trying to support a family and a mortgage under these circumstances.
Doesn’t seem fair really.
The fallers, skidder drivers, excavator drivers and other forestry workers will have no work, no income, and sod all help from their union and their government.
You’d expect the union representing forestry workers would be ensuring that some of this compensation money flows to the workers who stand to lose the most.
You’d expect workers’ representatives to be moving heaven and earth to get a good deal for their members.
You’d be wrong.
These workers have families, mortgages and have done nothing wrong except to place their trust and their family’s well being to the forestry industry.
These workers have precious few alternatives. Should they re-locate to the mines in W.A? Should they try to gain employment in plantation-based forestry, with higher mechanisation and fewer jobs available? Should they trust the industry to look after them in the transition?
Most union members would probably be expecting the union representing them to try to get a good deal for them.
This isn’t the case when you speak to the workers on the ground.
The CFMEU seems more concerned with Gunns and the associated factory jobs: not their forestry-based members.
How ironic that a union that has a massive pre-union amalgamation history of left-wing activism and a strong history of protecting workers from exploitation is seen to show more public support for developers than workers.
It seems to be a case of ‘get a good deal with Gunns’ and in return Gunns will ensure all their pulp mill employees will be members of the CFMEU. I guess from the union’s point of view they will be easier to service if they are all in the one location.
The CFMEU is on record as supporting a pulp mill, supporting Gunns, supporting Forestry Tasmania.
Can anyone remember them going into bat for forestry workers cast aside in this process?
The debate rages as to the propriety or otherwise of the pulp mill assessment process and the legitimacy of native forestry and some back room deal on a ‘statement of principles’.
But spare a thought for ordinary forest workers.
It is patently obvious to all in the industry as well as the general community that native forest logging can’t be a part of 21st century forest management. The community don’t want it, the world market for pulp and raw chips don’t want it, and Gunns don’t want it.
But don’t be fooled into thinking Gunns are withdrawing from native forestry because of environmental pressure. They know very well that the pulp yield from native forests is inferior to that of plantation timber. For them this is a decision of commercial reality, not a decision to keep anyone apart from Gunns happy.
Next time we call for the demise of Gunns, or the withdrawal of native forestry, spare a thought for the workers, painted as a bunch of reckless red-necks.
Spare a thought for their families, who still have no idea where there income will come from in 10 days time.
Spare a thought for good honest people trying to make a good honest living to support their families and provide opportunity to their kids.
So spare a thought for the workers – ignored by the decision makers and deemed to be acceptable collateral damage.
*Tin Tin is an insider. She cannot use her real name.
