Whyalla steelworks redundancies: First group of workers to exit by Friday

More than 250 workers at the Whyalla steelworks have been informed that they will be made redundant, with the first group of employees expected to exit the plant by this Friday.

The permanent closure of the blast furnace last month will reduce the plant's direct workforce from 1,700 to 1,200, while at least another 300 contractor roles will also be affected. Australian Workers' Union organiser Shane Karger said he expected about 270 direct employees to accept "genuine redundancies" by the end of this month.

"The first group of those will exit by this Friday," Mr Karger said. "Following that, voluntary redundancies and early retirement scheme applications would be processed."

Genuine redundancy occurs when a worker's role is no longer required, for example, those who were working at the blast furnace. Mr Karger said voluntary redundancies would go to workers in departments that would reduce their numbers but not shut down entirely.

Mr Karger said it's been an emotional time for workers in Whyalla. "There's been a lot of emotion," he said. "There's those that are young, they've got a mortgage … they're now thinking 'what the hell am I going to do now?'"

"You've got other workers that are looking forward to a well-earned rest after a very long career at the steelworks," he added.

Even for those who stay on, it is unclear what the future will look like. The steelworks has been in administration since early last year, with the announcement of a buyer expected by the end of 2026.

Mr Karger said unions have been working with administrators to make the process as fast and smooth as possible. "[That] will then sort out how many positions are up for redeployment," he said.

Several contractors have confirmed that they have already laid off staff, with more than one closing down entirely.

Worker reflects on 10 years at steelworks

Jack Taylor, 30, has done manual labour at the steelworks for 10 years but will clock off for the final time this week. His was one of the roles being cut and he has opted not to apply for redeployment, instead accepting a redundancy.

"It was a big decision to make," he said. "I own my house here in Whyalla so going for redeployment [would have] meant I'd have a chance of keeping a job, having income coming in."

Mr Taylor said years of uncertainty over the future of the steelworks had taken a toll. "The whole time I've been there … I haven't really felt secure," he said. "We've been through administration two times."

"I'm just a bit over all of it, to be honest," he said. He plans to apply for fly-in-fly-out jobs in the mining sector, and hopes to stay in Whyalla.

"I've got my family, the footy club, all my friends and that here," he said.