Ta Ann Southwood mill employees plead for certainty over jobs

Employees of Ta Ann’s fire-affected Southwood mill have called for certainty as the company’s Tasmanian directors work to convince overseas shareholders the site has a viable future.

Elaine Lovell, centre, with husband Noel, left, and son Dean at the Huonville community centre. The Lovells all worked for Ta Ann at the Southwood Mill that was damaged in the January bushfires. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

EMPLOYEES of Ta Ann’s fire-affected Southwood rotary veneer mill have called for certainty as the company’s Tasmanian directors work to convince overseas shareholders the site has a viable future.

Ta Ann has not yet announced whether it will reopen its Huon mill after the site was badly burned in recent bushfires.

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In the meantime, the company and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union will head to the Fair Work Commission next week for a determination on whether stand-down provisions within permanent employees’ enterprise bargaining agreements can be enacted.

Ta Ann and the union differ in their interpretations of the clause, which can only be applied in certain circumstances, including when a bushfire has ended.

The company and CFMEU are split on whether the bushfires are ongoing and therefore whether the paid stand-down provisions apply.

Ta Ann has committed to paying workers until that determination is made.

Company Tasmanian director Evan Rolley said the company was “moving Heaven and Earth” to ensure the mill’s 42 staff had information on work and training options.

“We are working to find those people an opportunity, one way or another,” Mr Rolley said yesterday.

“At every turn we’re absolutely committed to protecting their rights, protecting their obligations and their entitlements, and they’ll be fully protected.”

The badly damaged chip and fuel storage at the Ta Ann mill. Picture: SUPPLIED

Ta Ann organised a meeting at Huonville Town Hall on Wednesday aimed at highlighting employment and training opportunities on offer.

Ranelagh woman Elaine Lovell, a permanent employee of the Southwood mill, said she had struggled to sleep for the past several weeks out of stress for her future — and that of her family, which also worked at the site.

An emotional Ms Lovell pleaded for certainty from Ta Ann on whether it would reopen the mill. She had yesterday picked up information on retraining as an aged care worker.

“I keep bursting into tears … I love my job,” Ms Lovell, who has worked at the mill for 11 years, said.

“I’ve fought hard for that company [but] they’re not doing much to help their community.”

Mr Rolley said Ta Ann had partnered with Par Avion to fly some Huon Valley employees to the company’s Smithton mill for work.

“The two Tasmanian directors of the company … are doing as much as we can to get a favourable decision to rebuild that mill,” Mr Rolley said.

CFMEU state forestry spokesman Scott McLean said he was “praying every night” the Southwood mill would stay open. He also called for certainty.

“People are under pressure,” Mr McLean said.