Partnerships key to future industry success

IN MID-NOVEMBER, SILVICULTURE contractors across the country came together to attend a public meeting that also included frontline managers from forest companies.

The reason for the meeting was to highlight concerns that are now seriously challenging the viability and sustainability of many silviculture contracting businesses. These include labour shortages, training issues and financial stresses in their operations.

At the meeting, FICA members identified a number of key issues that a pan-industry action group could deal with, including:

1. Immigration New Zealand Income Threshold

Policy;

2.Special considerations necessary for work

visas in silviculture;

3. Lack of training and career development; 4. High turnover, low retention and chronic

shortage of skilled workers;

5. Need for better worker and contractor financial incentives and rewards.

Later in the month, FICA took a delegation of silviculture members to meet with the board of the NZ Forest Owners Association (FOA). The group summarised the concerns associated with the above key issues, with a view to gaining agreement from the FOA to bring together a small action group to work on solutions that will bring positive change to overcome the constraints and challenges that are limiting and threatening silviculture work across the industry.

This submission is the collective input from over 50 silviculture contractors across a number of regions around the country.

FICA highlighted the concerns of both members and non-members, the common thread is that the issues raised are causing considerable financial stress on both companies and individuals leading to stresses. Left unaddressed this could lead to considerable loss of silviculture business capability within the forest industry…..all at a time when the new government is looking to double the rate of tree planting.

FICA is proposing that FOA agrees to jointly form a Silviculture Action Group to confirm, quantify, prioritise and create change to address the issues raised in this submission and others that come to light through an open and consultative process with key stakeholders in the New Zealand forest industry.

Silviculture is among the most physically demanding jobs in the country, where workers have to endure adverse weather conditions, navigate through extreme terrain and avoid various hazards on a daily basis. It is a job most New Zealanders do not find desirable and, unfortunately, it is attached with the stigma of low income, poor housing and living conditions for those working in the sector.

Additionally, a silviculture worker has to be qualified to work unsupervised and must be drug and alcohol free. A top silviculture worker on the East Coast can earn over $50k per annum, but it’s rare, while an average worker may target just above minimum wage (excluding travel time). In comparison, a top shearer who is not subject to an alcohol and drug policy or qualifications, works in a relatively safe environment and can earn $150k in a season. A young shearer with 1-3 years’ experience can earn around $40-50k.

Industry figures from five years ago show that a silviculture contractor with a crew of 10 workers earns little more than $70k. Then take into account crew start-up costs ranging from between $80-100k, excessive safety administration (as a result of recent legislation), plotting and data analysis and managing operations in addition to normal business accounting. Throw in high operation overheads that not only include wages but also transport, PPE and work equipment and it is not surprising that silviculture is an unattractive business proposition.

We hope to report on a positive outcome for this very important group of people in the near future.

NZL An industry study group has been formed to consider ways of improving the lot of silviculture contractors and their workers.