[Australia] 3 weeks' wages guaranteed for Liberty Bell Bay smelter workers

In Australia, the Tasmanian and federal governments have agreed to fund the wages of Liberty Bell Bay workers for the next three weeks, keeping them employed while the search for a buyer continues, ABC News reports.

Liberty Bell Bay, at Bell Bay in Northern Tasmania, is Australia's last ferromanganese smelter. It was put into administration on March 23, and the search for a new buyer is ongoing.

Workers had reportedly been given an ultimatum to take unpaid leave or lose their jobs.

On April 22, Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres visited the site with Premier Jeremy Rockliff to announce that a deal to provide the surety for three weeks of workers' wages had been reached.

The loan is worth $3 million. It will be split evenly between the two governments. 

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said, "We need to give the sale process the best possible chance."

According to Ernst & Young’s administrators, there are a dozen potential buyers for Liberty Bell Bay, and a sale could take two to six months.

Local industry groups and unions have reportedly stated that the smelter remains a profitable business in "the right hands", but that retaining the highly skilled workforce remains key to a deal.

The Australian Workers' Union assistant national secretary, Chris Donovan, said the site’s fortnightly wage bill was around $1.6 million.

Source: ABC News

(Quote via original reporting)

In Australia, the Tasmanian and federal governments have agreed to fund the wages of Liberty Bell Bay workers for the next three weeks, keeping them employed while the search for a buyer continues, ABC News reports.

Liberty Bell Bay, at Bell Bay in Northern Tasmania, is Australia's last ferromanganese smelter. It was put into administration on March 23, and the search for a new buyer is ongoing.

Workers had reportedly been given an ultimatum to take unpaid leave or lose their jobs.

On April 22, Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres visited the site with Premier Jeremy Rockliff to announce that a deal to provide the surety for three weeks of workers' wages had been reached.

The loan is worth $3 million. It will be split evenly between the two governments. 

Premier Jeremy Rockliff said, "We need to give the sale process the best possible chance."

According to Ernst & Young’s administrators, there are a dozen potential buyers for Liberty Bell Bay, and a sale could take two to six months.

Local industry groups and unions have reportedly stated that the smelter remains a profitable business in "the right hands", but that retaining the highly skilled workforce remains key to a deal.

The Australian Workers' Union assistant national secretary, Chris Donovan, said the site’s fortnightly wage bill was around $1.6 million.

Source: ABC News

(Quote via original reporting)