UNIONS claim the Tasmanian government is trying to hurriedly slash Forestry Tasmania's workforce before a pay rise takes effect. The state-owned forests manager is in the process of shedding about a quarter of its staff as part of a bid to become profitable. Forestry Tasmania is considering scrapping between 50 and 100 positions, with the Community and Public Sector Union estimating that more than 70 jobs will go. CPSU state secretary Tom Lynch said Forestry Tasmania appeared set on having its redundancy program finalised by June 30. "There is a wage increase that applies at Forestry Tasmania from the first of July (of) 2.5 per cent," Mr Lynch said. "There seems to me to be an effort to get people out the door before that wage increase applies." Mr Lynch said he understood the scheduled pay rises would cost Forestry Tasmania about $1200 for each employee. A Forestry Tasmania spokeswoman denied the company was working to a June 30 deadline, but would not provide a timeline. Mr Lynch said the union would fight to have the redundancy process extended. "We're asking Forestry Tasmania to push out their timelines a bit because people are unable to get financial and superannuation advice before they make decisions on accepting redundancies," he said. "I think we're going to have a bit of a fight over that." Premier Will Hodgman yesterday stood by Forestry Tasmania amid questions over its job cuts program. "We have confidence in the management at FT to manage what is a very difficult situation," Mr Hodgman said. "They have not only the support and backing of our government, but it's also our stated public policy that no longer will be subsidise the organisation by $30 million."
UNIONS claim the Tasmanian government is trying to hurriedly slash Forestry Tasmania's workforce before a pay rise takes effect.
The state-owned forests manager is in the process of shedding about a quarter of its staff as part of a bid to become profitable.
Forestry Tasmania is considering scrapping between 50 and 100 positions, with the Community and Public Sector Union estimating that more than 70 jobs will go.
CPSU state secretary Tom Lynch said Forestry Tasmania appeared set on having its redundancy program finalised by June 30.
"There is a wage increase that applies at Forestry Tasmania from the first of July (of) 2.5 per cent," Mr Lynch said.
"There seems to me to be an effort to get people out the door before that wage increase applies."
Mr Lynch said he understood the scheduled pay rises would cost Forestry Tasmania about $1200 for each employee.
A Forestry Tasmania spokeswoman denied the company was working to a June 30 deadline, but would not provide a timeline.
Mr Lynch said the union would fight to have the redundancy process extended.
"We're asking Forestry Tasmania to push out their timelines a bit because people are unable to get financial and superannuation advice before they make decisions on accepting redundancies," he said.
"I think we're going to have a bit of a fight over that."
Premier Will Hodgman yesterday stood by Forestry Tasmania amid questions over its job cuts program.
"We have confidence in the management at FT to manage what is a very difficult situation," Mr Hodgman said.
"They have not only the support and backing of our government, but it's also our stated public policy that no longer will be subsidise the organisation by $30 million."
