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Canberra hardware jobs in jeopardy after Masters closure

Thursday, 25 Aug 2016 15:12:34

A Masters store is seen at Nerang on the Gold Coast. (AAP: Dave Hunt)

At least 65 hardware jobs in Canberra are in doubt after the announcement that two ACT hardware stores will close in the wake of Woolworths' exit from the home improvement market.

Woolworths has announced all Masters home improvement stores, including one at Majura Park near Canberra airport, will cease trading in December.

Woolworths also announced the sale of its Home Timber and Hardware business to competitor Metcash, which subsequently announced it would close a store in Gungahlin.

The closure of the Gungahlin business leaves roughly 65 jobs under threat, with many more in limbo due to the closure of the Masters store.

Hardware giant Bunnings has announced it has acquired 15 Masters sites, however it is yet to confirm whether the Canberra store is among them, or whether it could offer ongoing employment to staff.

Gerard Dwyer from the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) said the union was in talks with Woolworths, calling for any staff who lose their positions to be given preferential treatment for other jobs within the retailer.

"Those discussions have essentially focussed on securing ongoing employment for staff ... and also putting on the agenda, trying to maximise the number of casuals that we can also secure ongoing employment for," he said.

"Ongoing employment first, full payment of entitlements and redundancy if that ongoing employment can't be secured."

Mr Dwyer acknowledged it would be a challenge to find employment for the 65 staff working at the Gungahlin Home Timber and Hardware store.

"Sixty-five in Gungahlin, that's a large number of people going into the alternative labour source, that will be difficult," he said.

"If people are still looking for work [after the stores close], we'd be looking for some type of register where they could be contacted to pick up opportunities."

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