Thirty job cuts for fly-in fly-out staff

TASMANIAN workers employed in immigration centres around the country have lost their jobs.

About 30 Tasmanians who were employed as “fly-in-flyout” staff for interstate detention centres had been told earlier this year that the work would conclude in July.

The 30 charter workers were from the original group of more than 200 which worked at the former Pontville Detention Centre.

United Voice Tasmania, the union that covers detentioncentre staff, said the termination of employment had come as a huge blow for the 30 casually employed workers.

Secretary Jannette Armstrong said they had been loyal employees of Serco, the company that manages onshore immigration detention, and had worked under considerable stress.

“Obviously the detention centre closed here a number of years ago, but these staff contried tinued to do what was a really difficult job,” she said.

“Fly-in fly-out adds even more stress and impact — they feel they have gone above and beyond for Serco and now they have been thrown on the scrap heap.”

The former detention centre was closed in February 2014 when juvenile residents were relocated interstate.

Serco confirmed the loss of jobs but said all staff were given the opportunity to retain their employment if they relocated interstate.

A spokesman said six staff had taken up the offer.

“Serco has worked closely with affected staff and, as shown by the continuous employment since February 2014, to ensure ongoing opportunities. Unfortunately those opportunities no longer exist,” he said.

The job losses come as Tasmania reels from a spate of workforce cuts.

This week struggling Tasmanian hardware chain Kemp and Denning Ltd closed its Cambridge store, with the loss of about 25 jobs, and chocolate maker Cadbury announced 50 jobs will go from its Claremont plant by the end of the year

(see report, Page 10).

Unions also fear job cuts are ahead at zinc smelter Nyrstar Hobart.

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union official Richie Hassett said redundancies were expected as a result of a review of operations.

“There are no numbers yet but I think everyone is on edge,” he said.

The union would consult with management about any future redundancies, which were at least a month away.