THOUSANDS of angry steelworkers gathered in Wollongong  to condemn BlueScope Steel's management for job losses.   

They also demanded higher redundancy payouts and equal terms for contractors.

Union officials claimed macro-economic factors and more than a decade of failures by BlueScope executives were responsible for the local industry's most significant crisis since the 1920s.

Paul Howes, national secretary of the Australian Workers Union, attacked senior managers for awarding themselves bonuses while putting steelworkers "on the scrapheap".   

"This company has played a major role in its own downfall," he said. "They are sacrificing your jobs, your community on the altar of higher returns."   

The rally was the first significant meeting of the BlueScope workforce since the company announced plans last week to shut one of two remaining blast furnaces at its Port Kembla plant near Wollongong, south of Sydney, with the loss of about 1000 jobs.



BlueScope also said it planned to cut 200 jobs in Victoria.   

AWU officials said the meeting was attended by more than 2500 people, although other estimates put the number at 1500.

AWU local branch secretary Andy Gillespie said the union was seeking four weeks' pay for every year of service, 14 weeks' notice and a $5000 cash payment for every worker, and equal terms for contractors.   

The company is offering 2 1/2 weeks pay for every year of service, and has agreed to the 14-week notice period.   

BlueScope declined to comment on the meeting.