By Vanessa Chircop
UNIONS have slammed Toyota’s decision to shed 350 jobs at its Altona manufacturing plant.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) Assistant State Secretary Leigh Diehm described the cuts as unacceptable.
“We’re very concerned about the lack of information coming from the site,” he said.
“The workers don’t know if it’s them (being made redundant) or their mate next to them.”
Mr Diehm said the cuts would result in ongoing ramifications for Australia’s manufacturing industry.
“Potentially that would be up to 3000 jobs across the state of Victoria,” he said.
“They (Toyota) told us about their concerns about the high Australian dollar, they told us about the cost of manufacturing the car out here at the plant is a concern to them, but obviously the effects this is going to have on the local area and the broader area – is going to be a huge issue.”
Mr Diehm called on the State and Federal Governments to get involved and create good manufacturing policies.
“We’ve seen the Federal Government do quite a bit as far as the auto-industry goes, we haven’t seen much out of the Baillieu Government as of yet – we’d certainly call on the State Government to get involved and start doing some good.
“The auto-industry is a cornerstone to the manufacturing industry.
“You have the auto-industry disappear off the shores of Australia, you have the auto-industry disappear off the shores of Altona – the ramifications and follow-on effects to that are going to be absolutely huge.”
Toyota Site Convenor Charlie Marmara said he and his co-workers were dumbfounded by the announcement.
“We thought it was going to be a voluntary redundancy not compulsory redundancy,” he said.
“I think it’s the beginning of the end of manufacturing in Australia.
Mr Marmara, a father of four, said if he was forced to take the redundancy he doesn’t know what he would do for work.
“I’m 48-years-old, I’ve been here for 25 years.”
Member for Western Metropolitan Region, Bernie Finn blamed the job cuts on the Federal Government’s new carbon tax which is due to come into effect in July.
“Companies, having an eye towards 1 July, when the carbon tax is introduced and they’re making the appropriate changes – this carbon tax will be absolutely devastating for the western suburbs,” he said.
“In the case of Toyota, they blamed the high dollar and a couple of other things – because of course they don’t want to get into a fight with the Federal Government.”
When asked what the State Government will do to help the workers at Toyota Mr Finn pointed back to the carbon tax.
“There’s nothing the State Government can do about that,” he said.
“We’re in a parlous financial state now – Victoria was left broke by the previous Labor Government and we are trying to get that settled now.
“Sure we could pour billions and billions and billions of dollars into it but I don’t know where we’re going to get those dollars from – should we close some schools, should we close some hospitals?”
Despite Mr Finn’s comments Premier Ted Baillieu said the State Government would work with the company to provide assistance for the affected workers.
“The Coalition Government is working with Victorian manufacturers to manage these external economic challenges, and is implementing a clear economic plan to retain and attract business investment, generate employment opportunities and grow Victoria’s exports,” Mr Baillieu said.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said Mr Baillieu needs to outline exactly what date he will deliver a plan to create and retain jobs.
Member for Altona Jill Hennessy said while there are national and international factors affecting the economy, Mr Baillieu has a special responsibility to support local jobs and investment.
