SYDNEY (AFP)--The global financial crisis brought an early
Christmas for Australia's forestry workers, who announced Thursday
they would take their festive holidays early in a bid to save
jobs.
In an unprecedented show of unity, the National Association of
Forest Industries said timber companies had agreed to let their
staff take their Christmas holidays at Easter in a 10-day industry
shutdown.
Tens of thousands of workers were expected to down tools in a
bid to save jobs as the global downturn set in, said the
Association's Jane Heffernan.
"Basically it's a choice whether to continue working and lay off
staff, or go on this way," Heffernan said.
"It's not unlike what the car industry and others have done in
recent times."
Australian carmaker Holden, a subsidiary of General Motors Corp.
(GM), moved last week to reduce shifts at its South Australia plant
in a bid to save jobs, amid heavy layoffs in the embattled
resources sector.
Mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd. (RIO.AU) Tuesday said it would cut
about 700 permanent and contract jobs in response to a slump in
commodities prices and demand.
Rio and rival BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP) have said they will lay
off thousands of workers globally this year as the downturn
deepens.
Australia's jobless rate hit a five-year high of 5.7% Thursday,
and many analysts believe the economy is in recession after posting
negative growth in the final three months of 2008.