Alcoa has angered everyone from unions to conservative politicians for closing its Geelong plant with less than six months notice for its workers.
The aluminium manufacturer announced on Tuesday it will close its Point Henry smelter, as well as rolling mills at Geelong and Yennora in NSW, affecting almost 1000 workers.
The Point Henry facility in Geelong will close on July 31.
Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons says he is angered about the suddenness of the closure.
"It is not enough time. Alcoa has done the wrong thing," he said.
Federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson said she urged the company weeks ago to give workers time to be trained up for another job if it was going to close.
"Frankly, I am very disappointed in Alcoa," she said.
"To close the smelter by August is not good enough."
Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said workers needed immediate support considering the short notice being given.
Workers are also dismayed that they are suddenly needing to find work within five and a half months.
"Even though we've talked about it for a while, it is a big shock," said worker Kel Brewer, who has been at the plant for 33 years.
AWU Victorian branch secretary Ben Davis says he will talk to the company about the short notice period.
"These people need assistance urgently if they are going to be able to find employment at all, let alone employment in manufacturing," he said.
But Alcoa managing director David Cransberg stressed that the company announced a review of its operations two years ago.
"We think the workforce has been well involved in that decision as we made it," he said.
Pressed on why Alcoa could not give workers one year's notice, as Toyota did recently with its plant closure announcement, he conceded it was a financial decision.
