More than 1000 people have turned out at a rally in support of the Illawarra's steelmaking future.
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The Save Our Steel event, in Wollongong mall midday Saturday, marked an important potential turning point as union leaders working to retain the steelworks seek to transform the cause into a true community - not industry - campaign.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris wasn't disappointed at the turnout.
"This is what unity looks like," he told the crowd, from a makeshift stage in a ute-tray.
"This is what it means to have all of our city, our region - the people that not only work in that industry but those that work everywhere else and depend on such an important industry - this is what unity looks like when we say that this steelworks is here to stay.”
The crowd heard from Illawarra Labor politicians, with Liberal MP and Parliamentary secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward a much-noted absentee.
"Typical," someone yelled.
Australian Workers Union branch secretary Wayne Phillips told the crowd many people not directly employed by Bluescope had an interest in keeping the steelworks open.
"It’s not just steelworkers who’ll be affected, it’s everybody. The shops in there in the mall. If you don’t have a job you can’t come here and spend at the shops."
The rally followed a three-day mediation process between union heads and Bluescope that will determine where 500 job cuts will land.
The cuts are the fulcrum of the company's do-or-die plan to find $200 million in annual savings.
"That’s one of the hardest things as a union official I’ve had to do is work out who out of your members are going to get the flick," Mr Phillips told the crowd.
"There are some tough decisions to be made."
He welcomed members of Bluescope management who turned out alongside in a rare show of unity.
"Just remember: when we get back to the job ... we’re still enemies," he said, to laughs.
More to come.