20-05-2025
Liberty Bay Bell workers forced to take time off worry about financial future
Younger workers at troubled manganese alloy smelter Liberty Bell Bay in Tasmania's north have little-to-no accrued leave, according to the Australian Workers' Union.
"The union has received a number of calls from employees concerned they have little-to-no leave balance for that period," Robert Flanagan, from the union told ABC Mornings.
The owner of Liberty Bell Bay, GFG-Alliance, announced yesterday it had no choice but to place the smelter in a period of limited operations, essentially scaling back operations.
The company said the decision was made due to a number of reasons, including ore supply issues, global price volatility and US tariffs.
Liberty Bell Bay produces manganese alloy, which is used to strengthen steel for construction.
"LBB lost its main ore supplier last year due to tropical cyclone Megan, which caused extensive damage to South 32's GEMCO infrastructure, placing pressure on inventory and working capital," a spokesperson for Liberty Bell Bay said on Monday.
"We are still working through ore supply options at present."
There are about 250 workers at Liberty Bell Bay.
They've been asked to take any leave they have owed during the limited operations period. Those without leave have been stood down without pay.
"On the last two occasions that we've had shutdowns, employees have been provided with alternative duties and paid their usual pay.
"The approach the company is proposing on this occasion is a diversion from that, and it is creating significant anxiety."
Mr Flanagan said the limited operations period will commence on June 16 and is scheduled to end a month later on July 13.
"It is possible the date will extend, but it's expected the limited operations will end on July 13," he said.
The union is meeting with GFG-Alliance tomorrow to discuss the worker's concerns.
At this stage, the company said there will be no forced redundancies.
Beams Brothers is a fourth-generation Tasmanian quarry business at Flowery Gully in the West Tamar.
It supplies raw materials to Liberty Bell Bay and employs about 50 people.
"We've known about this for a while, I'm not an expert on it but I definitely know if you look at the information on the raw material I have no doubt that it's right.
"Manganese is not readily available right across the country."
Susie Bower, chief executive of the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone, said it was not just the direct employees impacted by Liberty Bell Bay's decision to limit operations.
"This has flow-on effects to our supply chain and to our small and medium businesses that support Liberty Bell Bay and their operation, so I'm trying to get that picture together and see what that means for our whole area and supply chain," she said.
Ms Bower said there were also options available for workers considering re-training or other career opportunities.
"We have the Northern Employment Business Hub, which is funded by Jobs Tasmania. That'll be providing support to the local community," she said.
"If any employees are a little uncertain about their future or want to look at other opportunities, we'll certainly provide that to them."
George Town Council mayor, Greg Kieser, said the community was anxious.
"I share those concerns, as I'm sure you can imagine … it's going to be a rocky road," Cr Kieser said.
"The message we're receiving is that there is a scenario where this ends well. They do have a supply chain crunch from one of their suppliers.
"The workers, we want to make sure we retain that staffing there, and that they get some certainty back in their life at the soonest opportunity."
Tasmania's Premier Jeremy Rockliff said he met with Cr Kieser this morning about the situation.
"Last week, I engaged with the prime minister directly, requesting the federal government to support our major employer as a matter of priority," Mr Rockliff said in a statement.
The Federal Industry Minister Tim Ayres has called on GFG-Alliance to be more" transparent" about the issues facing the business and to give the smelter enough support to allow it to continue processing ore.
