Ford stands down 1,250 workers
August 24, 2007 by Matt Brogan
A strike at Victorian car parts supplier ‘Venture’ (who supply a range of plastic form moulded parts including dash boards, bumpers, consoles and door trims) has resulted in 1,250 workers being temporarily stood-down without pay at Ford’s Broadmeadows and Geelong plants.
This flow-on effect is yet another blow to already suffering blue oval workers, who were advised in July this year of the discontinuation in production of the iconic straight six. But Ford Australia has been quick to defend their position saying, “This is temporary action only, and their (employees) jobs at Ford are not at risk”.
AMWU (Australian Manufacturing Workers Union) National Secretary, Ian Jones, said of Venture’s strike action that, “The 500 employees will strike indefinitely until such time as they receive the $25.5 million in commitments of which they are owed”.
Venture management have refused to pass comment on the situation, instead advising they have agreed to talks with the AMWU today. Car Advice will endeavour to post any developments as they arise.
Print it: 
And people wonder why we import so many cars from overseas. Get rid of the unions and maybe we could afford to make more cars!
Is it the Unions fault, or the bosses that don’t pay there employeers entitlments.
Just hope your never in that position CJ.
Holden & Toyota have also been reportedly doing the same next week……….
Venture doesnt seem to be caring about their employees, not paying entitlements. That sends a great message to their employees “we dont give a sh!t about your lifestyle just work your butt off”, and then they expect maximum effort from their workers, the managers in that company must be brilliant at managing. No wonder the local manufacturers are looking overseas for supplies, because local suppliers are so careless with their workers making the company unreliable because of situations like this.
The Unions are cutting their own throats….these are tough times for the car / auto parts companies so what do the always militant idealistic unions do?? Go on strike…send the companies broke and then the companies close down and we only buy imports!! Well done Unions….they crippled / destroyed the British car industry in much the same way. As for management…yes they should get their bloody acts together too!! For a start Ford should look at EXPORTING the Falcon, Australia is not big enough to support 4 manufacturers, which was why Mitsubishi so sadly closed down, so make that 3 now. How sad it is that they are closing the Barra engine plant in 2010. Dunlop tyre plant is closing down. These closures should be considered as national tragedies! As for the Aust Government…if Rudd and Labor REALLY support the average workers / businesses in Australia then why the hell are they reducing imported vehicle tariffs? Tax the foreign cars less and the Aussie cars more….well done Rudd. I cannot believe the mentalities of the unions/management/and the Govt!