As the Launceston-based timber company Gunns prepares to sell off its non-forestry business, the company is said that although its 200 workers who are employed at its Mitre 10 stores are integral to the business, what the next buyer does to the employees is not it is not the responsibility of the company.
The announcement, of selling segments of its business due to the case of controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill, was made on Friday.
It is being predicted that the buyer probably will be the Australian retail giant Woolworths; however no final agreement has yet been signed.
In this restructuring, the Mitre 10 hardware stores and other non-forestry assets have been planned to be sold, therefore it was apparent that the workers will go jobless.
It is noticeable that according to the Gunns' half-year report, on one hand where the first half of the financial year for Gunns witnessed a 98% decline in profit, the company’s Mitre 10 hardware stores recorded a momentous increase in turnover and earnings.
It was disclosed by the Spokesman of the company yesterday that Mitre 10 employees were "integral" to the business; nothing can be said about what will be done to the jobs of the workers after the hardware chain gets sold.