Smelter Workers Face Decision Day
Administrators want to keep all workers at Liberty Bell Bay smelter.
In short:
The administrator is confident a buyer will be found for the smelter.
Workers are rallying for government support after the parent company entered administration.
What's next?
The sale process is expected to be well advanced in three to four weeks.
The administrator believes the smelter is a viable business with great potential.
The smelter is a major employer for George Town.
The bids received were predicated on keeping the 216-strong workforce intact.
There is a strong desire to retain the full workforce.
The production manager says government support is needed.
The sale process values the supplier network, customer network, and workforce.
The smelter was placed into voluntary administration last month.
The owner of the smelter has entered voluntary administration, causing uncertainty for workers.
The smelter was cash-starved under the ownership of GFG.
The business faced challenges due to capital constraints.
Workers were told there was no more money to pay wages and they must decide on leave without pay or redundancy.
Workers have until the end of the day to decide on their options.
The main objective is to keep the workforce intact.
The administrator wants to minimize the time workers are without pay.
Hundreds of workers and their families attended a rally for support.
The next phase of the sale process involves due diligence on bidders.
Tasmanian smelter workers are pleading for government support.
Workers and their families attended a rally, calling for state and federal government intervention.
The AWU estimates the weekly wages bill at Liberty Bell Bay is $1.6 million.
The union believes $5 million is needed to cover workers until a sale is finalized.
The Australian Workers' Union is supporting the workers.
Nothing concrete has been offered by the governments.
The administrators had positive discussions with the state and federal government.
The Tasmanian infrastructure minister expects quick progress on a support package.
Liberty Bell Bay smelter workers face an uncertain future.
Federal Bass MP Jess Teesdale supports the workers and the proposed support package.
About 175 workers will be laid off unless they take leave without pay.
The federal industry minister's spokesperson acknowledges the workforce's unacceptable uncertainty.
The Australian government is working with the Tasmanian Government to support workers.
Heath Williams had support from his kids at the rally.
Workers are nervous but hopeful.
Generations of George Town families have worked at the smelter.
The smelter is a profitable business with the right owner.
The production manager is nervous but hopeful of a positive outcome.
The liability to employee creditors is about $34 million.
The administrators have not called for proofs of debt or adjudicated on them yet.
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