Another call for the Government to get involved in the negotiations between the operators of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter and Meridian Energy.
The SOE supplies electricity to the smelter near Bluff from the Manapouri Power Station.
Council of Trade Unions Secretary Peter Conway says the Government has to be interested in 3,200 jobs that are reliant on the smelter.
He says it's no different from the Government rolling out about $95 million for The Hobbit movies which supported about 3,000.
"I don't think the government can afford to sit back and just see this play out into 2013 when there's so much at stake."
Mr Conway says clearly the Government needs to get alongside the people of Southland.
"To support the whole process between Rio Tinto and the smelter and Meridian, and make sure that there is security in terms of jobs in this region."
