Three of the nation's biggest unions have thrown their support behind workers at Norco's Lismore ice cream factory, who risk losing their jobs without urgent government flood relief.
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The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union, and the Electrical Trades Union are calling on the state and federal governments to urgently intervene and save the jobs of more than 200 workers at Norco's ice cream factory in Lismore.
The unions have written to the Premier and Deputy Premier, along with relevant state and federal ministers and their respective shadows, urging action to prevent job losses that would devastate the local community. The ice cream factory workers have their pay guaranteed until July 15. They need certainty now.
The AMWU, AMIEU and ETU are demanding an urgent meeting of all relevant stakeholders including representatives from the company, unions, state and federal governments, and the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation.
State Secretary AMWU NSW & ACT, Cory Wright said Norco was an important business in Lismore and governments at all levels needed "to step up and take accountability here, we cannot allow these workers to lose their jobs".
"Lismore is a resilient community, but there's no way it can bounce back from losing 240 jobs. The impact on the community will be profound," Mr Wright said.
"Our NSW Premier has committed to work with the Resilience NSW report recommendations, but the community doesn't have two years, we need action now."
Newcastle and Northern Branch Secretary AMIEU, Justin Smith said for many workers, it was the only job they had ever had.
"There are AMIEU members at Norco that have worked at the factory for decades and haven't ever worked anywhere else. This factory doesn't just provide a job to these workers and employment for the community. It is a part of their and Lismore's identity," Mr Smith said.
"Norco and its workers contribute significantly to the local and the broader NSW economy; Lismore and the State can't afford for this work to go elsewhere. The State government must do all it can to ensure it doesn't.
"Perrottet and Toole need to at least match the federal government support package of $50m, right now the State Government is offering less than half of their federal counterparts."
State Secretary ETU NSW & ACT, Allen Hicks said the State Government needed to follow through on its promise of support.
"Workers and their communities have been ravaged by these floods and the aftermath. Our NSW Government was quick to offer support in the headlines but have failed to follow through.
"Hiding behind the Resilience NSW report and failing to take action will only compound the damage to our Northern Rivers communities.
"We need the state government to step up and protect these workers."
