Ford jobs crisis climax today

Danny Lannen
November 13th, 2008

MARK McClure will go to work today expecting to learn if he needs to go there anymore.

The Ford worker of almost 23 years will be one of many employees filing through the gates today with hopeful or heavy hearts as the company prepares to mobilise its latest round of job cuts.

Staff are calling it D-Day, D for dilemma, D for decision, D for departure. Some, like Mr McClure, will be happy to take the money and go. ``I've put my hand up,'' Mr McClure said.
``It's hard. You've got to consider all of the options, but I just think the way everything's been going I think the damage has been done. ``I suppose at the end of the day you have to make a decision on do you want to change direction.''

Mr McClure, 39, is a toolmaker and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union metals deputy in Geelong's stamping operation.

He said the mood in the plant remained sombre, sometimes testy and sometimes emotional. ``You see people obviously pretty upset and they just don't know what to do,'' Mr McClure said. ``Some people are just prepared to hang on no matter what, and I suppose whatever they're dealt, they're dealt. ``I suppose in the back of people's minds they're waiting and some are probably getting a bit impatient wanting to know what to do once the decision is made. ``I guess some are thinking in the back of their minds, have I made the right decision or not?''

Mr McClure is a single dad with a son, 13, at home. He's not fretting about his financial situation but he doesn't have a new job to turn to and wonders about the future. He also despairs for loss of skills in the workforce as Ford employees turn to other endeavours.

Mr McClure believes the State Government should step in and help with re-training. ``We shouldn't be disadvantaged in access to training and should get access to government-funded training in these circumstances,'' Mr McClure said. ``They come out and say about skills for the future and redevelopment. Some very, very highly skilled people come out of the auto industry and it would be easier to teach now than losing it.''

He doubts the Federal Government's $6.2 billion auto industry rescue package will do much. ``I'm not convinced it's over yet,'' Mr McClure said.``I'm convinced the worst is still to come in the economy and the auto industry. ``The Government package sounds good but when you talk about the auto industry it chews money up like it's going out of fashion; $6 billion doesn't go far in that lot.''