Qube Forestry in Tasmania is now facing the prospect of industrial action at three of its major export log facilities — Burnie, Bell Bay and Hobart — as members of the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU) move to progress a protected action ballot.
Tasmanian District Secretary Danny Murphy said the union has been bargaining in good faith for months, but Qube has failed to put forward an acceptable offer for workers.
"We have been bargaining in good faith with Qube for months and we are still far from finalising a fair deal for our members. Our members have had enough. We will be exercising our legal right to take the first formal step toward protected industrial action," Mr Murphy said.
The three export facilities handle a significant share of Tasmania's total log-export volume each year, making any disruption highly impactful. Estimated annual export volumes include:
- Burnie: around 500,000–700,000 tonnes of plantation and native-forest logs
- Bell Bay: around 800,000–1,000,000 tonnes
- Hobart: around 150,000–250,000 tonnes
"We are confident that when we conduct a protected action ballot, our members will overwhelmingly support it. They simply want a fair and decent agreement that recognises the value of their work," Mr Murphy said.
If industrial action proceeds, it would be the first such action at these export facilities in several decades, signalling the union's determination to lift standards in a sector long held back by low wages and poor conditions.
"Timber workers deserve better than the current low standards. Our members are standing together to change that," Mr Murphy concluded.
The ballot will be conducted in the New Year.
