Kenan is still in shock about being made redundant by Toyota last week. 80346 Picture: VANESSA CHIRCOP
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
“THIS is wrong, it shouldn’t have happened,” says former Toyota employee Kenan.
Kenan was one of 350 Toyota workers sacked last week at the Altona Manufacturing Plant.
Despite announcing its intention to slash jobs in January, the company has received widespread criticism from politicians, unions and employees on how it chose to sack staff.
The company hired extra security guards who escorted workers off-site in mini-buses where they were handed their redundancies.
Kenan said the process made him feel like a criminal.
“I felt ashamed like I’d stolen something … I was embarrassed to be taken out like this,” he said.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) National Vehicle Division Secretary Ian Jones said the way workers were told of their redundancies was disrespectful and undignified.
Some workers have described the sackings as a “clean out” with many sacked employees holding union positions or on WorkCover.
Mr Jones said the AMWU would investigate whether workers had been selected for redundancy on the basis of their union activity.
Kenan, who has worked at the plant for nine years, said his forced redundancy came as a shock.
Throughout his time at the company Kenan held many roles but most recently was a Health and Safety Representative.
Kenan believes it was because he held this elected union position, Toyota chose to sack him.
The 45-year-old has already started making enquiries to find work but may be forced to sell his house in order to meet his responsibilities including child support payments.
“I’m like in a dream… I can’t think, it’s not easy,” he said, “suddenly after nine years they cut you off in this manner.
Toyota Site Convenor Charlie Marmara was not made redundant last week, which he said was only due to a technicality in his contract.
“Union-wise I’m the highest person here, what they’ve done is cut my arms and legs off – 80 per cent of the shop stewards and health and safety reps have been terminated… then they attacked the WorkCover people, then the migrants whose English is not very good and older people,” Mr Marmara said.
A spokesperson for Toyota told Star last week the company was “pleased with the outcome for our employees and moving ahead with our plans”.
