Two hundred fifty steelmaking jobs have been cut in Waratah after Molycop announced its decision to cease local production and restructure its plant in Newcastle.
The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) described the decision as a sad day for the Hunter region and the Australian Steel industry.
The decision will result in 250 out of 540 workers losing their jobs— half of those affected will be AWU members, the union said Thursday.
“This announcement will come as a painful shock to workers, many of whom have worked at that site for their whole working lives,” said AWU New South Wales Branch Secretary Tony Callinan.
“This steel mill has been operating for over a century, sustaining livelihoods and the community. Today’s announcement represents a sad day for the Hunter and a sad day for the Australian manufacturing industry.”
According to Callinan, the organisation will work with Molycop’s management to ensure all affected workers receive their full entitlements and re-training opportunities.
“Right now our immediate focus is on working with the company to minimise the pain. Expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies from across the entire site will hopefully minimise forced redundancies and there will be re-training opportunities for those who need to continue working,” Callinan said.
