200 jobs to go at Alcoa

Date: 27 September 2007

The loss of nearly 200 jobs at Alcoa over the next year underlines the Federal Government's neglect of industry policy, the Australian Workers' Union says.

138 jobs will be lost at Yennora, in Sydney, in December with the closure of Alcoa's sheet, coil and foil operations, which will in turn lead to losses at Port Henry, in Geelong, where 56 jobs will go by May next year.

The AWU will work closely with the company to ensure workers receive all their entitlements, as well as other services including financial planning, severance counseling and outplacement services.

"These job losses represent a clear failure of the federal industry policy," says AWU National Secretary Bill Shorten.

"It defies belief that we cannot profitably sell aluminium foil and coil industrial packaging here when all the components are made locally.

"It's time there was greater support for research and development by Australian industry, or cheaper imports will leave Australia as nothing more than the world's mine."

The AWU understands Alcoa is initially seeking volunteers for redundancy.

For further information

Union:	The Australian Workers' Union
Phone:	02 9264 5911
Fax:	02 9264 5017
WWW:	http://www.awu.net.au

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