A PROMINENT regional forestry workers’ union says the possible closure of a Carter Holt Harvey structural timber mill in regional Victoria has sent shock waves across its workforce in the South East.
The timber giant has announced it would shut the Morwell softwood mill within three months, throwing 160 regional employees out of work.
The news of the looming mill closure also follows 160 workers at the company’s Myrtleford operations being locked out over wage negotiations.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Green Triangle secretary Brad Coates said South East workers were feeling jittery over the company’s moves to rationalise some of its Australian operations.
Mr Coates revealed the company had posted a $56m profit in its Australian wood product division and questioned why they needed to close a regional mill.
He said the company had initially mooted the closure of its Morwell operation in 2012 at the time when it shut its Lakeside mill in Mount Gambier.
Although other interstate mills were facing rationalisation, he said there was no talk this would spread to the South East.
“The closure of Morwell may bring some certainty for the CHH Jubilee Highway mill,” Mr Coates said.
But he said the company’s recent behaviour showed the company was willing to take a “hard-line” approach to its Australian operations and regional workforce.
