22Feb08 - Geelong Advertiser
Ford's new Falcon meeting consumer demands, says Ford boss Bill Osborne.
ALTHOUGH I have only recently arrived to head up the team here at Ford Australia, it didn't take me long to pick up on the palpable excitement, surrounding this moment. Ford is meeting a changing market with a broad range of exciting and relevant cars. The next step in the transition of this great company is to continue changing the Ford brand _ from traditional and muscular _ to fresh, exciting and right for modern Australia.
You can map this transition back to June 2004, with the launch of the amazing Ford Territory. Territory re-defined the SUV segment and it re-defined Ford. We continued this change when we introduced new vehicles such as Fiesta and Focus. We followed those launches with exciting sports derivatives of both vehicles and the addition of the new Ranger, closely followed late last year by the return of the Mondeo.
We now offer a complete range of vehicles that includes Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Territory, Escape, Ranger, Falcon, Falcon Ute, and Transit. From 2011, we will manufacture more of them right here in Australia when we add production of the globally successful Focus to our line-up of locally produced vehicles.
For the full story go to: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2008/02/22/11611_opinion.html
Will FG Fly where the 380 Floundered?
Andrew Heasley: February 18, 2008 - The Age
WILL the new Falcon fly for Ford? It must, to shift Ford away from now being Australia's most precariously balanced local car manufacturer.
The good news is that the new FG-series car looks fresh and follows the styling trends of Ford's new-looking cars from Europe, such as the Mondeo mid-sizer's so-called "kinetic design". The most criticised feature of the old Falcon has been fixed: getting in and out of the rear has been made easier. There are safety and fuel efficiency improvements and cabin appointments are better than on the outgoing Falcon.
For more go to: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/will-fg-fly-where-the-380-foundered/2008/02/17/1203190653109.html
WILL the new Falcon fly for Ford? It must, to shift Ford away from now being Australia's most precariously balanced local car manufacturer.
The good news is that the new FG-series car looks fresh and follows the styling trends of Ford's new-looking cars from Europe, such as the Mondeo mid-sizer's so-called "kinetic design". The most criticised feature of the old Falcon has been fixed: getting in and out of the rear has been made easier. There are safety and fuel efficiency improvements and cabin appointments are better than on the outgoing Falcon.
For more go to: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/will-fg-fly-where-the-380-foundered/2008/02/17/1203190653109.html
A fork in the Road
Ian Porter, February 16, 2008 - The Age Newspaper
THERE will be a lot of hoopla when Ford unveils its new Falcon tomorrow. Car launches, after all, tend to be extravagant. The launch completes a process that can stretch over three years, sometimes more, and that involves thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars. It's unsurprising then, that there is always an eddy of trepidation, even fear.....
For the full story: http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/a-fork-in-the-road/2008/02/15/1202760593844.html
Ford, union in 'deal' over worker payouts
Andrew Mathieson - Geelong Idependent (15/2/2008)
FORD has reached an in-principle agreement over a revised payout deal with Geelong workers set to lose their jobs.
Australian Manufacturers Workers Union, which represented Ford employees at the Industrial Relations Commission, will meet the commissioner today to finalise a formal recommendation.
Union vehicle division secretary Ian Jones said all shop stewards and occupational groups at the Geelong factory had approved the deal. Mr Jones said the union would run mass meetings with members next week to discuss the package. “In the context of the arrangements that we’ve reached with the company, they’re supported by all unions in the bargaining team right across Ford’s operations,” Mr Jones said.
Members had rejected the company’s initial redundancy offer, accusing Ford of breaking a promise it made to workers last year when announcing 600 job losses.
The union said Ford had withdrawn an “enhanced voluntary severance package” that had become an industry standard between all car manufacturers. Mr Jones refused to reveal details of the new settlement package until he had discussed it with members. But he said the union had resolved other issues related to the job losses such as arrangements for closure of the redundant part of the factory, further outsourcing and a restructuring program. “We’ve tackled all the outstanding issues that workers have been concerned about,” Mr Jones said. “We’re pretty comfortable that the outcomes are going to meet their expectations.”
Mr Jones said Ford was still “a good employer” even though his union had to drag the company into the Industrial Relations Commission for an adequate workers’ redundancy package. He said resolving industrial problems before new Ford Australia president Bill Osborne took over was a priority.
Ford plans to cut jobs from its Geelong plant by 2010 when it stops production of its six-cylinder engine for an imported V6.
Ford has told the Independent it will not comment on issues before the IRC.
FORD has reached an in-principle agreement over a revised payout deal with Geelong workers set to lose their jobs.
Australian Manufacturers Workers Union, which represented Ford employees at the Industrial Relations Commission, will meet the commissioner today to finalise a formal recommendation.
Union vehicle division secretary Ian Jones said all shop stewards and occupational groups at the Geelong factory had approved the deal. Mr Jones said the union would run mass meetings with members next week to discuss the package. “In the context of the arrangements that we’ve reached with the company, they’re supported by all unions in the bargaining team right across Ford’s operations,” Mr Jones said.
Members had rejected the company’s initial redundancy offer, accusing Ford of breaking a promise it made to workers last year when announcing 600 job losses.
The union said Ford had withdrawn an “enhanced voluntary severance package” that had become an industry standard between all car manufacturers. Mr Jones refused to reveal details of the new settlement package until he had discussed it with members. But he said the union had resolved other issues related to the job losses such as arrangements for closure of the redundant part of the factory, further outsourcing and a restructuring program. “We’ve tackled all the outstanding issues that workers have been concerned about,” Mr Jones said. “We’re pretty comfortable that the outcomes are going to meet their expectations.”
Mr Jones said Ford was still “a good employer” even though his union had to drag the company into the Industrial Relations Commission for an adequate workers’ redundancy package. He said resolving industrial problems before new Ford Australia president Bill Osborne took over was a priority.
Ford plans to cut jobs from its Geelong plant by 2010 when it stops production of its six-cylinder engine for an imported V6.
Ford has told the Independent it will not comment on issues before the IRC.
Ford 'breaks' payout pledge
Andrew Mathieson - Geelong Independent (8/2/2008)
Geelong Ford workers set to lose their jobs have rejected a payout offer, accusing the company of breaking its promise of industry-standard redundancy entitlements. Australian Manufacturers Workers Union accused the company of withdrawing its “enhanced voluntary severance package” in favour of an inferior payout.
Ford had offered the enhanced package when it announced in July the loss of 600 jobs at its Geelong and Broadmeadows factories by 2010, the union said.
The union took Ford to the Industrial Relations Commission this week in a bid to force the company into restoring the enhanced package.
Angry members told the Independent some management staff had received “golden handshakes” at the expense of workers’ payouts.
AMWU vehicle division federal secretary Ian Jones said the company’s latest offer was “clearly deficient”. “They are required to negotiate something that is more akin to an industry standard,” Mr Jones said. “It (the enhanced package) has been set effectively by the other car manufacturers and Ford hasn’t accepted our arguments on that.”
Mr Jones believed the union and Ford had made “further and good progress” toward striking a deal despite ending up in the IRC. “I’m confident that we should be in a position to repair it,” he said.
Ford workers’ vehicle union delegate Tony Anderson said the difference between the redundancy offers was “substantial”.
Mr Anderson said workers would consider their next move if negotiations broke down but had ruled out jeopardising production of Ford’s latest models. “It’s not something we want to do and we hope we can reach an agreement to take to our members,” Mr Anderson said.
Ford company spokesperson Sinead McAlary said the company declined to comment on matters relating to the commission, except that negotiations were “moving along”.
Geelong Ford workers set to lose their jobs have rejected a payout offer, accusing the company of breaking its promise of industry-standard redundancy entitlements. Australian Manufacturers Workers Union accused the company of withdrawing its “enhanced voluntary severance package” in favour of an inferior payout.
Ford had offered the enhanced package when it announced in July the loss of 600 jobs at its Geelong and Broadmeadows factories by 2010, the union said.
The union took Ford to the Industrial Relations Commission this week in a bid to force the company into restoring the enhanced package.
Angry members told the Independent some management staff had received “golden handshakes” at the expense of workers’ payouts.
AMWU vehicle division federal secretary Ian Jones said the company’s latest offer was “clearly deficient”. “They are required to negotiate something that is more akin to an industry standard,” Mr Jones said. “It (the enhanced package) has been set effectively by the other car manufacturers and Ford hasn’t accepted our arguments on that.”
Mr Jones believed the union and Ford had made “further and good progress” toward striking a deal despite ending up in the IRC. “I’m confident that we should be in a position to repair it,” he said.
Ford workers’ vehicle union delegate Tony Anderson said the difference between the redundancy offers was “substantial”.
Mr Anderson said workers would consider their next move if negotiations broke down but had ruled out jeopardising production of Ford’s latest models. “It’s not something we want to do and we hope we can reach an agreement to take to our members,” Mr Anderson said.
Ford company spokesperson Sinead McAlary said the company declined to comment on matters relating to the commission, except that negotiations were “moving along”.
$20m Ford grant faces axe
Gerard McManus
February 06, 2008 12:00am - Herald Sun
THE Rudd Government wants to axe a $20 million grant to Ford promised by its predecessor.
The Rudd razor gang decided in December to ditch the grant, which could jeopardise plans to build a new four-cylinder Ford at its Broadmeadows plant.
But the new Government has since received legal advice that Ford could pursue a legal claim based on a breach of faith.
The Herald Sun learned of the Ford setback on the same day Mitsubishi announced it would close its Adelaide plant.
In May 2006, the former Howard government pledged $52.5 million in special assistance to Ford.
Ford has received $32.5 million, but the remaining $20 million was not due to be paid until 2009-10.
The grant was intended to help Ford start production on a new Falcon project, known as E8.
But last July Ford sought to modify the agreement so the money could be spent on developing the four-cylinder Focus.
Production of the Focus, Ford's first locally made small car in a decade, is due to start at Broadmeadows in 2011, creating 300 jobs.
But the new contract between Ford and the Government was not formally amended before the November federal election.
Sources said the Government's strategic Budget committee of Cabinet met on December 18 and discussed axing the grant.
Subsequently, the Australian Government Solicitor advised the committee Ford could sue if it proceeded with its decision.
February 06, 2008 12:00am - Herald Sun
THE Rudd Government wants to axe a $20 million grant to Ford promised by its predecessor.
The Rudd razor gang decided in December to ditch the grant, which could jeopardise plans to build a new four-cylinder Ford at its Broadmeadows plant.
But the new Government has since received legal advice that Ford could pursue a legal claim based on a breach of faith.
The Herald Sun learned of the Ford setback on the same day Mitsubishi announced it would close its Adelaide plant.
In May 2006, the former Howard government pledged $52.5 million in special assistance to Ford.
Ford has received $32.5 million, but the remaining $20 million was not due to be paid until 2009-10.
The grant was intended to help Ford start production on a new Falcon project, known as E8.
But last July Ford sought to modify the agreement so the money could be spent on developing the four-cylinder Focus.
Production of the Focus, Ford's first locally made small car in a decade, is due to start at Broadmeadows in 2011, creating 300 jobs.
But the new contract between Ford and the Government was not formally amended before the November federal election.
Sources said the Government's strategic Budget committee of Cabinet met on December 18 and discussed axing the grant.
Subsequently, the Australian Government Solicitor advised the committee Ford could sue if it proceeded with its decision.
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