Media Release
Tuesday December 8th, 2009
Burnie and Wesley Vale Paper Mills
cut 580 jobs
Yesterday’s announcement that Paperlinx intends to close its Tasmanian paper
mills will devastate up to 580 families and the communities right across the North
West Coast.
Union representatives met with the company last Friday but no indication was
given that the closure was imminent. Now the company has decided to announce
this to employees without the support of their representatives.
AMWU State Secretary Anne Urquhart said that the company’s behaviour in not
advising of this closure on Friday whilst meeting with unions was disgraceful.
“The impact of this closure will be widely felt, not just in terms of direct jobs, but
contractors, and other providers,” Ms Urquhart said.
“Making this decision so close to Christmas is going to make things very difficult
for workers and their families,” said Ms Urquhart.
The AMWU is calling on Federal and State governments to consider initiatives to
ensure that Tasmania’s manufacturing sector is supported through this difficult
time, by maintaining stimulus packages and investing in opportunities for highly
skilled jobs.
For more information, please call Anne Urquhart on 0418 140 562 or Anaya Latter on
0432 121 636
NEWS 
