Forest worker compensation?

By Ben Courtice

HOBART -- In the midst of the Wilderness Society's “Long Hot Summer” campaign, there have been calls to compensate forestry workers suffering financial hardship because of the disruption to their work. Sixteen workers recently lost two days' pay as protesters blockaded their equipment.

Mike Grey, state secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union said, “What concerns me is ... if we have workers not being able to put bread and butter on the family table, some of these workers will take desperate measures ... that would basically mean going to work and `stiffo' if someone got hurt.”

The Wilderness Society says it supports the move provided that the compensation is provided by industry and not the taxpayer. The government is looking into the issue.

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