BlueScope Port Kembla Works Being Set Up For Failure, Union Says
08/31/2015 - The Australian Workers’ Union is calling an on-site meeting at BlueScope Steel’s Port Kembla works this week to figure out a way to save the operation, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
According to the newspaper, the union will meet on 2 September and try to come up with a so-called Plan C for the steel works, which is in New South Wales, Australia.
“We have six to eight weeks to do something otherwise the company will make an announcement we are not happy with," AWU branch secretary Wayne Philips told the newspaper. "We will hopefully put something together to save the steel industry."
BlueScope CEO Paul O’Malley has said the company needs to cut AUD$200 million in costs, otherwise BlueScope will close Port Kembla’s last operating blast furnace.
However, the union and South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris argue that the ultimatum is an excuse to shut down the steel works, the newspaper said.
"That is not a plan from BlueScope; it is a threat," Rorris told the newspaper. "We are being set up to fail.”
“We have six to eight weeks to do something otherwise the company will make an announcement we are not happy with," AWU branch secretary Wayne Philips told the newspaper. "We will hopefully put something together to save the steel industry."
BlueScope CEO Paul O’Malley has said the company needs to cut AUD$200 million in costs, otherwise BlueScope will close Port Kembla’s last operating blast furnace.
However, the union and South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris argue that the ultimatum is an excuse to shut down the steel works, the newspaper said.
"That is not a plan from BlueScope; it is a threat," Rorris told the newspaper. "We are being set up to fail.”
