Smoke rises from chimneys and facilities of steel plants on a hazy day in Benxi, Liaoning province November 3, 2013. A chronic shortage of natural gas is hurting China's plan to move away from burning coal to heat homes and offices, raising the prosp
Smoke rises from chimneys and facilities of steel plants on a hazy day in Benxi, Liaoning province November 3, 2013. A chronic shortage of natural gas is hurting China's plan to move away from burning coal to heat homes and offices, raising the prospect of more choking air pollution this winter and beyond. The problem is worst in northern China, where air pollution mainly caused by decades of reliance on coal has lowered life expectancy by an estimated 5.5 years compared to the south, Chinese and international researchers said in July. Picture taken November 3, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer

The Australian Workers Union, or AWU, has shown its willingness to work with the largest steel producer of Australia, Bluescope Steel. It aims at saving the company’s plant at Port Kembla, which it announced to shut down soon in August.

On Wednesday, a public meeting was held at Wollongong in South Sydney to discuss the future of the steelworkers. It was attended by more than 500 employees. Though the company gained profit last week, it was unsure of whether it could help bring back its Port Kembla plant out of a miserable situation it has been stuck in. The assumed darker future of the local plant of Port Kembla has pulled the AWU towards shaking hands with the steel giant.

The steelmaker announced taking off about 500 jobs and saving AU$200 million to make sure steelmaking at Port Kembla has a future as soon as it regains its financial strength. Discussion and negotiation with Bluescope would save the company, AWU branch secretary Wayne Phillips told the steelworkers.

“What else can we do or how can we do it differently to save as many roles as possible ... but at the same time deliver the savings – pretty bloody close to it or more – that he’s looking for?” he said, as reported by ABC.net. He added that they will be formulating strategies to move forward and figure out what’s the next step as part of the mediation with Bluescope. The solution to disagreements would be worked upon and if still it sustained, the matter will be transferred to AWU National Secretary Scott McDine and BlueScope Chief Executive Mark Vassella.

Phillip also said that in case they are not capable of solving the issue, it will then be forwarded to the Fair Work Commission boss Iain Ross. According to Phillips, shedding jobs is not an alternative to the losses incurred. “Members don’t like it. We don’t like it, but reality says that we have to save our industry,” he stated.

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