TIME FOR LOCAL JOBS, TO COME BACK TO LOCALS!! Most of us are concerned about the heavy job losses happening in the Upper Hunter electorate at the moment. When job losses reach the numbers we are now facing everyone will be impacted in some way, as families move they stop spending in the local community, have to take their children out of local schools, their spouse has to leave their job and they may be a teacher, or nurse with skills we find it hard to attract. For approximately 300 job losses it costs our local economy $25million a year! So think about how many have lost jobs in the downturn, the 500 from Drayton South, the associated contractors which will be hundreds and the 300 employees because of the possible sale of the poles and wires; We are set for some really tough times. I’ve had calls from people in the last week saying that it is now time local employers stopped applying for overseas workers and started recruiting local workers across all industry. I agree it is ok if you can’t find workers to employ from overseas, but we are now in a situation where we have plenty of local people available to work. While many of these jobs are low paying compared to mine money, every little bit can help while people are trying to get back on their feet. I hold no grudge against the many overseas people who come here to work and there are some lovely people among them who enrich our community. I won’t tolerate any racist arguments, it is not about what country you come, what ethnicity you are, what religion you have, good people come in all shapes and sizes; that is not what this is about. The people who come here to work are not the problem, the companies which employ them are. Many local companies have employed workers from overseas, because they have claimed they can’t find people to employ locally. In the past that may have been the case, but that now needs to change. I’ve had people tell me that these employers now only advertise in papers overseas and don’t even bother giving local people a chance by advertising in our local papers. Claims that there may not be skilled people locally need to be checked and if it is the case, then training should be made available locally. This situation cuts across all industries: mining contractors, the equine industry and other primary industries, such as the meat works. It’s time all of these companies rethink who they are employing and how they can justify not being able to find local workers to fill their vacancies. It’s time for government departments to watch extra closely to ensure these organisations are not using loop holes to avoid employing local people. It’s time for local people and their families to be put first locally! Like and share to make local companies accountable. Lee Watts: For People, Not Parties.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 07:54:57 +0000
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