Monday November 24 2008- for immediate release
The CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division today said it would be campaigning with regional federal Members of Parliament across Australia in the lead up to Christmas, to convince politicians of the need for a Government plan for the industry that facilitated growth, job security and improved value adding in 2009.
The campaign comes as Laminex announces voluntary redundancies at its particle board manufacturing plant in Ballarat.
CFMEU Forestry and Furnishing Products Division Victorian State Secretary Jane Calvert said that the union would communicate with all of its membership across Australia before Christmas, as part of its campaign for sustainable jobs and economic security.
“We want this industry up off the mat in 2009, after losing mills in 5 states in the second half of 2008.”
“125 000 Australians across regional Australia who work in our industry deserve nothing less than absolute focus from us, in order to get some focus from the federal government to develop an industry plan.”
“In Victoria we have lost a shift at Myrtleford and our Western Victorian timber communities have suffered as a result of the Dartmoor mill closure.”
“We intend sending delegations to federal Members of Parliament representing ‘timber seats’ such as Darren Cheeseman, to explain to our elected representatives that our industry needs some strategic direction facilitated by Government.”
“This is not about hand outs, our industry needs a template to work from that will deliver sustainable industry development and job security.”
