Martin Watters
18Dec07
FORD has unveiled its multi-million dollar research and development centres in Geelong and the You Yangs.
The Australian arm of the global auto giant recently showed off its $27 million replacement Research and Development Centre, updated stamping operations and new You Yangs testing facilities.
For the full story go to: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/12/18/9771_news.html
Ivor: This does nothing for the 600 Engine workers who are still going to be made redundant in 2010.
Ford, Mazda show confidence in Thailand
Ford and Mazda say their Thai joint venture will invest more than $US500 million ($A560.73 million) in a new small car production plant - the largest foreign investment in Thailand since last September's coup.
The investment, split evenly between Ford and Mazda, adds a new dimension to manufacturing now focused on pickup trucks. It will increase the production capacity at the AutoAlliance Thailand joint venture plant to 275,000 vehicles from 175,000, the companies said in a joint statement.
For the full story go to - http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Ford-Mazda-show-confidence-in-Thailand/2007/10/09/1191695910281.html
The investment, split evenly between Ford and Mazda, adds a new dimension to manufacturing now focused on pickup trucks. It will increase the production capacity at the AutoAlliance Thailand joint venture plant to 275,000 vehicles from 175,000, the companies said in a joint statement.
For the full story go to - http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Ford-Mazda-show-confidence-in-Thailand/2007/10/09/1191695910281.html
PHIL CLEARY: You can't live off footy alone
THERE'S nothing like a premiership to bring joy to a football city. And when it's your first in 44 years it's no surprise the people of Geelong have celebrated long and hard. Unfortunately, for thousands of workers in Geelong there's more to life than a premiership.
``The grand final was really exciting but every time I saw the Ford logo on the jumper and the signage on the fence I thought about the job losses at the Ford plant. A premiership is great but it doesn't put food on the table,'' says Ford worker Jim Kontogeorgis.
Born in Geelong in 1969 to an Australian-born mother and a Greek father, who arrived in Geelong in time to see the Cats win the 1963 flag, Jim has worked at Ford for 20 years.
Like his dad, he's an avid Cats supporter. Married with three children, all below six years of age, Jim can't afford to be one of the 600 workers who'll lose their jobs at Ford in 2010. Two weeks before the grand final, he read in disbelief of Ford's decision to abandon the annual Christmas party.
``It's the right business decision to cancel the party,' said Ford spokesman Edward Finn. It didn't seem to matter to Mr Finn that the Christmas party pre-dated Geelong's 1963 flag or that the decision to scrap it came a mere three months after Ford told employees about the 600 job cuts.
It isn't just Geelong's Ford workers facing an uncertain future. The 100 people at Bekaert's steel plant and the 50 workers at Coghlan and Russell's engineering plant _ who also lost their entitlements _ are but the tip of the unemployment iceberg. Alcoa is struggling and the BHP wire mill will make a decision later this year about its future. The list of jobs lost in the manufacturing sector goes on and on.
When Cameron Ling declared there'd be no more council rates in Geelong and everyone could take the rest of the week off work during his tenure as mayor for a day there was laughter all round. Who wouldn't laugh?
If only Cameron's interest in the plight of residents was enough to convince the big wheels at Ford to change their mind on the Christmas party and the job cuts. If only the winning of a premiership created secure, long-term employment for the people of Geelong.
Through my work with the ABC, telecasting VFL football, I've seen how important football is to Geelong. It was because of the Geelong people that the VFL had its biggest grand final crowd _ 14,000 people _ in nearly 20 years. Geelong supporters brought levels of passion to the lead-up finals at Port and to the grand final that equalled anything I'd seen in the days when Port Melbourne was king of the VFA.
It will be terrible if this premiership induces people to ignore the plight of workers in Geelong. There's obviously enough money in Geelong to sustain a successful football club and no-one should under-estimate the work Frank Costa and his board has done to bring economic security to the club.
But with the premiership secure, maybe it's time to think about the economic security of the working people who've sustained the Geelong Football Club in the difficult times. After all, you can't live off football alone.
Phil Cleary manages communications with the Electrical Trades Union http://www.etu.asn.au/ _ he is former independent federal politician and Coburg VFA premiership player and coach.
Source: Geelong Advertiser - http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/11/7750_opinion.html
More: - Ford worker interview video with Phil Cleary - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcDiC_yL9ss
``The grand final was really exciting but every time I saw the Ford logo on the jumper and the signage on the fence I thought about the job losses at the Ford plant. A premiership is great but it doesn't put food on the table,'' says Ford worker Jim Kontogeorgis.
Born in Geelong in 1969 to an Australian-born mother and a Greek father, who arrived in Geelong in time to see the Cats win the 1963 flag, Jim has worked at Ford for 20 years.
Like his dad, he's an avid Cats supporter. Married with three children, all below six years of age, Jim can't afford to be one of the 600 workers who'll lose their jobs at Ford in 2010. Two weeks before the grand final, he read in disbelief of Ford's decision to abandon the annual Christmas party.
``It's the right business decision to cancel the party,' said Ford spokesman Edward Finn. It didn't seem to matter to Mr Finn that the Christmas party pre-dated Geelong's 1963 flag or that the decision to scrap it came a mere three months after Ford told employees about the 600 job cuts.
It isn't just Geelong's Ford workers facing an uncertain future. The 100 people at Bekaert's steel plant and the 50 workers at Coghlan and Russell's engineering plant _ who also lost their entitlements _ are but the tip of the unemployment iceberg. Alcoa is struggling and the BHP wire mill will make a decision later this year about its future. The list of jobs lost in the manufacturing sector goes on and on.
When Cameron Ling declared there'd be no more council rates in Geelong and everyone could take the rest of the week off work during his tenure as mayor for a day there was laughter all round. Who wouldn't laugh?
If only Cameron's interest in the plight of residents was enough to convince the big wheels at Ford to change their mind on the Christmas party and the job cuts. If only the winning of a premiership created secure, long-term employment for the people of Geelong.
Through my work with the ABC, telecasting VFL football, I've seen how important football is to Geelong. It was because of the Geelong people that the VFL had its biggest grand final crowd _ 14,000 people _ in nearly 20 years. Geelong supporters brought levels of passion to the lead-up finals at Port and to the grand final that equalled anything I'd seen in the days when Port Melbourne was king of the VFA.
It will be terrible if this premiership induces people to ignore the plight of workers in Geelong. There's obviously enough money in Geelong to sustain a successful football club and no-one should under-estimate the work Frank Costa and his board has done to bring economic security to the club.
But with the premiership secure, maybe it's time to think about the economic security of the working people who've sustained the Geelong Football Club in the difficult times. After all, you can't live off football alone.
Phil Cleary manages communications with the Electrical Trades Union http://www.etu.asn.au/ _ he is former independent federal politician and Coburg VFA premiership player and coach.
Source: Geelong Advertiser - http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/10/11/7750_opinion.html
More: - Ford worker interview video with Phil Cleary - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcDiC_yL9ss
Call for support as more Geelong jobs axed
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union is calling for greater state and federal support for Geelong, as more companies scale back their operations.
Alcoa Australia Rolled Products has today announced it will cut 56 jobs at its Point Henry site as part of a company restructure.
Earlier this month, car manufacturer Ford told 600 workers they would lose their jobs when its engine plant closes.
The AMWU says the $24 million government fund to absorb the job losses is inadequate.
The Union's State Secretary, Steven Dargavel, says the package needs to be in the order of $200 million.
"We've had a number of companies announce significant redundancies in the Geelong area, after the redundancies originating from Ford," he said.
"We certainly are concerned that the Federal Government is not directing sufficient support to the manufacturing industry and to supporting workers who are suffering this kind of dislocation," he said.
"We've seen extraordinary announcements of support for the farming community and nothing like that for blue collar workers in areas like Geelong," Mr Dargavel said.
"Clearly this package is not sufficient to assist the local community to adjust to the sorts of shocks it's facing now," he said.
Source: Rachael Brown, ABC - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/27/2045307.htm
For more on this story - http://www.amwu.asn.au/default.asp?action=LoadArticle&ID=3036 http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/28/7294_news.html
Alcoa Australia Rolled Products has today announced it will cut 56 jobs at its Point Henry site as part of a company restructure.
Earlier this month, car manufacturer Ford told 600 workers they would lose their jobs when its engine plant closes.
The AMWU says the $24 million government fund to absorb the job losses is inadequate.
The Union's State Secretary, Steven Dargavel, says the package needs to be in the order of $200 million.
"We've had a number of companies announce significant redundancies in the Geelong area, after the redundancies originating from Ford," he said.
"We certainly are concerned that the Federal Government is not directing sufficient support to the manufacturing industry and to supporting workers who are suffering this kind of dislocation," he said.
"We've seen extraordinary announcements of support for the farming community and nothing like that for blue collar workers in areas like Geelong," Mr Dargavel said.
"Clearly this package is not sufficient to assist the local community to adjust to the sorts of shocks it's facing now," he said.
Source: Rachael Brown, ABC - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/27/2045307.htm
For more on this story - http://www.amwu.asn.au/default.asp?action=LoadArticle&ID=3036 http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/28/7294_news.html
Ford Christmas party axed
FORD has cancelled a 30-year tradition of holding a Christmas party, in what workers said was a ``kick in the guts'' for 600 Geelong workers set to be sacked by 2010.
The auto giant has decided to cancel its regular December festivities during what is a difficult year for the company, which announced plans to close its Norlane engine plant in July.
For the full story go to:
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/14/6851_news.html
The auto giant has decided to cancel its regular December festivities during what is a difficult year for the company, which announced plans to close its Norlane engine plant in July.
For the full story go to:
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/14/6851_news.html
More Jobs to Go?
Sources close to Ford indicated today, that up to 150 more people will be turned out of work at the Broadmeadows plant (Melbourne) early next year, as the car giant implodes even further.
Workers from the Manufacturing Trim area are set for outsourcing.
Rumours also abound that there will be large outsourcing actions undertaken at Geelong stamping plant next year.
What next? Where will this madness stop? Can anyone shed any light on what is going on at Broadmeadows?
I thought there was supposed to be 300 new jobs at Broadmeadows, now it looks like this has been halved!
Latest breaking news:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Ford-to-redeploy-120-Broadmeadows-staff/2007/09/11/1189276713556.html
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=43409&vf=26
Workers from the Manufacturing Trim area are set for outsourcing.
Rumours also abound that there will be large outsourcing actions undertaken at Geelong stamping plant next year.
What next? Where will this madness stop? Can anyone shed any light on what is going on at Broadmeadows?
I thought there was supposed to be 300 new jobs at Broadmeadows, now it looks like this has been halved!
Latest breaking news:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Ford-to-redeploy-120-Broadmeadows-staff/2007/09/11/1189276713556.html
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=43409&vf=26
Geelong's favorite son, Stuart McColl has his say!
THE Geelong Advertiser published some comments that I made regarding the loss of some 600 to 2000-3000 jobs and the inexcusable total disregard by our civic leaders to do something positive to keep the Ford engine plant in Geelong and retain all those jobs.
Late that afternoon I received a phone from an angry mayor of Geelong who claimed that my article was most offensive and completely wrong......
For the full story go to the links below -
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/08/29/6455_opinion.html
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/08/09/5978_opinion.html
Late that afternoon I received a phone from an angry mayor of Geelong who claimed that my article was most offensive and completely wrong......
For the full story go to the links below -
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/08/29/6455_opinion.html
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/08/09/5978_opinion.html
What are these blokes go'na do?
These are some of the poor souls out of work in 2010. All highly skilled with no meaningful chance of finding work. The government had better come up with something QUICK. How many families will be uprooted, how many kids will be ripped away from their young friends and moved to some sweaty mining town. This plant closure is a social disaster and needs a proper social plan to allow this community to maintain its fabric. The amount of money the government has made available stinks and wont get the job done. We must force the powers to listen. Please make an effort to forward this blog site to as many people as possible. We need to build this campaign...Fair Trade not Free Trade...
$24 million Rotten Carrot
If $24 million is a carrot it's the one that fell down behind the crisper 10 years ago. That amount of money is a small part of what is needed. The dog and pony show in town yesterday short changed Geelong. What is this city going to look like in 3-5 years time? What new industries are going to be here. I want to know what you think, so make a comment and dont forget to vote on the money question. That reminds me, make sure you are enroled to vote in the upcoming Federal election and make sure your friends and family are enroled as well. The government must answer for the US free trade agreement.
Click on the link below to veiw the reference article:
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/05/6620_opinion.html
Click on the link below to veiw the reference article:
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/05/6620_opinion.html
$24m first round funding call
Michaela Farrington
04Sep07 (Geelong Advertiser)
THE federal and state governments today called for applications for the first round of a $24 million fund to boost investment in Geelong.
Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane and state Regional Development Minister Jacinta Allen were in Geelong this morning to launch the Geelong Investment and Innovation Fund to create new jobs in Geelong in the wake of the Ford engine plant closure..........
For the full story go to: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/04/6587_news.html
04Sep07 (Geelong Advertiser)
THE federal and state governments today called for applications for the first round of a $24 million fund to boost investment in Geelong.
Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane and state Regional Development Minister Jacinta Allen were in Geelong this morning to launch the Geelong Investment and Innovation Fund to create new jobs in Geelong in the wake of the Ford engine plant closure..........
For the full story go to: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2007/09/04/6587_news.html
$24 million Geelong Investment Fund
The $24 million allocated for job creation in the Geelong area by the Federal and State governments is a start, but a lot more needs to be done to attract new manufacturing industry to the city of Geelong.
For more information on this fund go to the links below:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1981524.htm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/ford-workers-shattered/2007/07/18/1184559837504.html
____________________________________________________
The article below is in reference to the $50 million recovery fund supposedly set up to assist the 650 retrenched workers at Mitsubishi's Lonsdale engine plant in Adelaide (2005).
Union Warning on Ford Fund Failure
'A TOP South Australian unionist has warned Geelong not to squander a $24 million industry recovery fund. He said a similar South Australian fund flopped. The Victorian and federal governments created the Innovation and Investment Fund for Geelong last month after Ford announced it would shut down its engine plant in 2010, cutting 600 jobs. But Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU) South Australian secretary John Camillo said yesterday the comparable fund in his state created the wrong jobs in the wrong industries. He said that two years after the fund was set up, almost 50 per cent of former employees were in casual work and nearly 30 per cent unemployed.'
Source: Jeff Whaley, Geelong Advertiser Thursday 16th August 2007.
For more information on this fund go to the links below:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2007/s1981524.htm
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/ford-workers-shattered/2007/07/18/1184559837504.html
____________________________________________________
The article below is in reference to the $50 million recovery fund supposedly set up to assist the 650 retrenched workers at Mitsubishi's Lonsdale engine plant in Adelaide (2005).
Union Warning on Ford Fund Failure
'A TOP South Australian unionist has warned Geelong not to squander a $24 million industry recovery fund. He said a similar South Australian fund flopped. The Victorian and federal governments created the Innovation and Investment Fund for Geelong last month after Ford announced it would shut down its engine plant in 2010, cutting 600 jobs. But Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU) South Australian secretary John Camillo said yesterday the comparable fund in his state created the wrong jobs in the wrong industries. He said that two years after the fund was set up, almost 50 per cent of former employees were in casual work and nearly 30 per cent unemployed.'
Source: Jeff Whaley, Geelong Advertiser Thursday 16th August 2007.
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