Hundreds of Holden workers at Elizabeth plant in Adelaide accept voluntary redundanci

[KIWI-1]

Four-hundred workers at Holden's Elizabeth car plant in Adelaide have taken voluntary redundancies and will finish work on Friday.
The future of Holden in Adelaide is still in doubt with the company expected to finalise its business plan in September.
Federation of Vehicle Industry Unions spokesman John Camillo says more than 500 workers put their hands up to take a separation package.
"It's a better situation than the situation of people being forced out the door with no choice whether they want to stay or not so, it's a good outcome for all, but it's a sad day for those 400 people," he said.
The redundancies come as independent expert Goran Roos conducts an investigation into Holden's books and manufacturing practices.
Mr Camillo says Professor Roos is expected to give an update on his findings this week.
"Professor Goran Roos will speak to all the shop stewards in regards to his findings and what he's found in regard to the company opening its books and cost structures," he said.
"The real issue will be at the end of July when the recommendation of his findings will be put to Holden and the Federation of Vehicle Industry Union."
On Thursday, Holden voiced concern about the Government's planned changes to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), saying they could have a significant impact on the market for locally made new cars.
The Government announced the plan this week in an attempt to save $1.8 billion to offset the cost of moving from the fixed carbon price to a floating price a year early.
The changes mean drivers who buy cars using salary sacrifice schemes will have to keep detailed log books, breaking down their personal and business use.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-2...ancies/4833362

[jpd80]

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

Two reasons, only 400 was the number needed to go, or...It's a case of you can volunteer to go but we actually want you to stay. It's a subtle way of keeping those considered too good to let go without having to do a more open "weeding of the garden".

[fte50]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

They still need enough resources to run their business.

[jpd80]

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

Well here's hoping production stays strong for the remaining workforce...

[burnz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

so what are you trying to say, redundancies at the engine plant??

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by burnz

so what are you trying to say, redundancies at the engine plant??

I knew someone would bring that up...

Actually the intel says that V6 sales will come back as Holden gets on top of this V8 resurgence,
mate, the depth of Holden sales is phenomenal when they give buyers what they want,
a new V8 car after seven years of basically the same body, it was always going to happen.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

Well here's hoping production stays strong for the remaining workforce...

I'm not surprised about the Redline situation at all. When you look at the kit that's in a SS-V Redline they are going to steal sales from HSV in a major way IMO.

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

Well here's hoping production stays strong for the remaining workforce...

This is not surprising, if supply is constrained you spend what capability you do have on your higher margin lines-V8s- why bust a gut to build a stack of Evokes to dump into Europcar for no profit?
The mix will even out as time goes on.

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

I have never worked at GM but many years ago I put my hand up when the company was asking for Voluntary Redundancies and I was knocked back.

Not very pleased, I went to the union rep for some advice.
He reckoned he had never heard of someone asking for Unfair Undismissal
I stayed but only until next time

[bigwil]

A little bit off topic, but if Holden do close down in a few years I think they should also retire the Holden name and just call themselves GM.

[LeadFoot81]

Originally Posted by bigwil

A little bit off topic, but if Holden do close down in a few years I think they should also retire the Holden name and just call themselves GM.

There's far too much equity in the Holden label to just dump it (even in the near future). However I'm sure this is consistently reviewed, and once a certain tipping point is reached it will happen (but not for A long time IMHO)

[fast gt]

All Holden are going to do is build less cars... They are going from 400 cars a day to 335... But for the first week after everyone leaves they're going to start off at about 280 and make their way up to 335...

[Iggle Piggle]

I put my hand up for a redundancy package but Holden knocked me back because I don't work there.

[PepeLePew]

And given the potent demand for VF so widely advertised right now.....?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

And given the potent demand for VF so widely advertised right now.....?

they are well over staffed, and if need more they will be "casual"

[Silver Ghia]

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

Not really plenty of work just not in what people like eg security/cleaning

[mik]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

better to go at the start of the financial year than wait for the bullet later in the year when industry is not hiring.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

[fte50]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

Damn those pathetic unions, if their members worked for $250 p/w they would still have a job !

[zilo]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

What a sickening list of burden onto a business.

I couldn't afford to employ any of them.

Yep...make cars overseas...that list is bull ****.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by zilo

What a sickening list of burden onto a business.

I couldn't afford to employ any of them.

Yep...make cars overseas...that list is bull ****.

I sure as hell wouldn't want to work for you

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by ILLaViTaR

I sure as hell wouldn't want to work for you

Then you sure as hell can sit on the dole bludgers queue like every other "I want, I want" ********.

No wonder companies want to go offshore.

[ILLaViTaR]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

Then you sure as hell can sit on the dole bludgers queue like every other "I want, I want" ********.

No wonder companies want to go offshore.

Yeah I've heard it all before and it works both ways. I don't you fella's willingly getting on your hands an knees for the $7-18 casual an hour you expect your workers too.

Every environment I've worked in the owner has pulled the same disgusting moral obligation over the workers and it's *** everywhere, that is employing them under casual positions and treating it as full time. Gonna try and justify that one are ya? The 21st century sweatshop as they call it.

How many people do you actually correctly employ under casual positions?

[fte50]

Originally Posted by zilo

What a sickening list of burden onto a business.

I couldn't afford to employ any of them.

Yep...make cars overseas...that list is bull ****.

Maybe, just maybe your not as big as GM !

[zilo]

Originally Posted by fte50

Maybe, just maybe your not as big as GM !

If the entitlements needed to pay them out weren't as high then they would be employed for longer.

Basically the accountants run to the board and say that there isn't enough money to build cars cause the tipping point has been reached of capital only just matching what it would take to pay employees out.

So less breathing space for the employer in a fluctuating market.

Wouldn't the workers all kick them selves if the Aussie dollar dropped to 70 cents in a couple of years and the plant could have suddenly been viable again?

Bad luck though...cause that option disappears...FOREVER when you shut the plant.


EDIT: I calculate about 3 years severance pay plus for someone with 10 years service as redundancy.

[fte50]

Originally Posted by zilo

Wouldn't the workers all kick them selves if the Aussie dollar dropped to 70 cents in a couple of years and the plant could have suddenly been viable again?

Don't be delusional mate, this aint the little corner milkbar, its a global giant who's become so out of greed, so greedy infact that even if our dollar was worth 50cents it would still not add up to (or down to) 3rd world to satisfy its board .

[XP6]

Originally Posted by zilo

What a sickening list of burden onto a business.

I couldn't afford to employ any of them.

Yep...make cars overseas...that list is bull ****.

Tell that to someone who's been working there since he/she was in their twenty's and is now in their 50's they'd have no trade qualifications(that are still relevant) other than assembly line work... they probably couldnt handle a physical job as thats about all they could get without spending several years skilling up... who wants to do that when your thinking about retirement!

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by XP6

Tell that to someone who's been working there since he/she was in their twenty's and is now in their 50's they'd have no trade qualifications(that are still relevant) other than assembly line work... they probably couldnt handle a physical job as thats about all they could get without spending several years skilling up... who wants to do that when your thinking about retirement!

A worker in this scenario would walk out with more $$$ in the bank now than if they were to work until retirement. Taking redundancy now would also more than double their superannuation and guarantee staff discounts for life.

Their financial situation would be secure however they would need to come to terms with the emotional impact of redundancy.