URGENT UPDATE: The Timber, Furnishing & Textiles Union (TFTU) has just confirmed that timber workers in New South Wales (NSW) will receive redundancy support packages that are five times worse than those provided to their counterparts in Victoria. This alarming disparity comes as the NSW Government faces backlash over its handling of the Great Koala National Park decision.
TFTU NSW Secretary Alison Rudman has publicly condemned the government’s inadequate support, emphasizing that workers are being offered “scraps” while their Victorian peers are treated with dignity and respect. “This is Labor abandoning its own people in regional communities who have stood by the party for generations,” Rudman stated.
The union has expressed grave concerns over the lack of communication from the NSW Government regarding the operational details of the support scheme for unemployed workers. “We’ve asked again and again for information,” Rudman remarked. “Instead, the Government hides behind press releases and spin while workers face unemployment. That is not a fair go and it’s not what people voted for when they elected Labor.”
Reports indicate that anxiety is rising among workers across the mid-north coast, with many struggling to explain potential job losses to their families. In towns like Heron’s Creek, where 85 mill jobs account for one-third of the workforce, the implications of this decision could devastate entire communities. “When you kill the timber industry, you kill the towns,” Rudman warned. She highlighted that schools, health services, and small businesses would all suffer, while the promised replacement jobs in tourism simply do not exist.
The TFTU is urgently calling on the NSW Government to reverse its decision and provide a fair deal for timber workers and the communities they support. “Our workers deserve better than this,” Rudman concluded, calling for immediate action to rectify the situation.
As this situation continues to develop, attention is focused on how the government will respond to the mounting pressure from both the union and affected communities. The outcome of this standoff could have lasting repercussions for timber workers and the regional economy as a whole.
Stay tuned for further updates on this urgent issue impacting thousands of families in New South Wales.
