Geelong Independent - 05th December 2014

Page 1

Geelong

Friday, 5 December, 2014

Connecting people and communities

Phone: 5249 6700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

Our global Christmas ASHLEY Coote and Teresa Seg are pictured playing inside a giant Christmas snow globe at central Geelong’s T&G building. Central Geelong Marketing has installed the globe for shoppers to take unique photos of themselves celebrating Christmas and the festive season. 131930 Picture: REG RYAN

MP ON JOB FOR UNION PROTEST P7

REP’S BARD HITS HIGH SPEED P24

350 told jobs gone days before Christmas

Yule be out of work

By NOEL MURPHY

INDY GUIDE TO SENIORS LIFE P32-38

ALCOA’S last 350 Geelong workers will face a bleak, uncertain Christmas when they farewell the aluminium plant after 51 years of operation in a fortnight. Alcoa’s rolled products division will close on 19 December. Production at Alcoa’s Point Hen-

ry smelter ended in August with the departure of 500 workers. The sackings will make for a unhappy Christmas despite sizeable separation packages for workers, many of whom have been long-term employees. But the redundancy payouts - on average around three weeks pay for every year of service will be cold comfort for workers

and their families as they face a difficult search for new jobs. “It’s going to be hard for the older guys, for all of them, to get new jobs in the Geelong area,� Australian Workers Union organiser Gavin Penn told the Independent. “The payouts will be be eaten up fairly quickly. I’m already getting calls from people asking

about fly-in/fly-out jobs. There are a few going round but the big thing is when you’re gone from the family for three weeks then home for a week and off again it can be a bit tough. “But people need to work. I know people from the smelter who have had to move to Queensland to work up there. “It’s the end of era but it’s

hard losing your job a week prior to Christmas.� Alcoa reviewed its Point Henry operations in 2012, finding no prospect of becoming financially viable. Last February it announced the closure of the smelter and rolling mill as well as a rolling mill in Yennora, New South Wales. Continued page 3

Castrol GTX 20W50 5LT • Superior sludge e protection to o help extend d engine life e U SKU 6 OA00616

>L OH]L KL]LSVWLYZ ^HU[PUN [V I\`

We kn n w how to light up Christmas!

*HSS 7L[LY 1\SPHU ;VKH` WO!

Armor All Quick Clean Gift Bucket LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER

CATALOGUE SALE

999

ENDS THIS 65% NDAY! SU 7TH DECEMBER

NO RAINCHECKS

~

SAVE $19~

OFF

• Includes Wash h & Wax,, Large Sponge, Protectant, s,, Clean-up Wipes, All Purpose g Cloth & Cleaning Sponge OVER * If sold separately. y. $40 VALUE* SKU CC05507

1999

GEELONG 82 SEPARATION ST PH: 5278 1200

139 MP 3 WMA

IN

front aux

2X RCA

Variable Colour

1167115-KC49-14

‹ (JYLZ ‹ )SVJRZ VM -SH[Z ‹ *VY ULY )SVJRZ ‹ =HJHU[ )SVJRZ ‹ <UYLUV]H[LK 7LYPVK /VTLZ 1072213-PJ18-13

200W Bluetooth™ iPodŽ/ iPhoneŽ Direct Control CD Tuner SKU ME18063


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.