BlueScope Steel has announced plans to reduce production at it Western Port facility, in a move that is expected to cut 170 jobs.
The company is meeting with Australian Workers Union delegates today. The AWU’s Cesar Melhem told AAP that it was “a heartbreaking start to the new year for our members at Western Port.”
BlueScope describes the downsizing as a move to “reconfigure its Australian cold rolling, metal coated and painted steel production.” The estimated cost will be $17 million, but this will be “recovered within one year through ongoing improvements to the operating cost base,” said Mark Vasella, the BlueScope Australia and New Zealand CEO, in a statement.
110 employees and 60 contractors will suffer job losses.
BlueScope has cut 1500-plus jobs since 2011, and last August reported a loss of $1.04 billion for the year to last June.