1200 ford workers to be stood down without pay tonight

http://www.news.com.au/business/stor...-31037,00.html

Due to Venture Industries strike of 240 employees.

By Catherine Best, Simon Mossman and Kate Lahey

August 23, 2007 05:03pm

Article from: AAP
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MORE than 1200 Ford workers in Victoria are to be stood down indefinitely without pay from tonight as a new industrial dispute threatens to cripple Australia's car industry.

More than 240 workers at Venture Industries, a former Ford unit that supplies the car manufacturer with plastic components, walked off the job today in a row over unpaid entitlements.

Union leaders say Venture employees are owed $25 million in entitlements, after the company announced it would close its Broadmeadows factory and move to a new site on the other side of Melbourne.

Tonight, Ford said 800 assembly line workers based at Broadmeadows and 450 engine workers at its Geelong plant would be stood down from close of business today until the supply of Venture products resumed.

"This is a temporary action only and their jobs at Ford are not at risk. Other Ford employees will continue working," Ford spokeswoman Sinead McAlary said.

"We have indicated to both the union and Venture that we expect them to work to resolve this matter as soon as possible."

The 1250 workers affected by the dispute would be able to use their annual leave entitlements to cover any shortfalls from a loss of pay, Ms McAlary said.

The strike action would directly affect Ford's overall production, and could also have an impact on more than 200 other suppliers – most of them in Victoria – which provide components to the car manufacturer.

"Ford produces 350 cars a day. This means there will be no cars whatsoever being rolled out until the dispute is resolved."

Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) Victorian secretary Steve Dargavel said most of Venture's 242-strong workforce would be sacked without redundancy entitlements to cut costs.

The company had purchased another business, Venture DMG, based in Melbourne's southeast, where equipment and resources would be relocated.

Mr Dargavel blamed the problems on multi-national corporations seeking to capitalise on the Australian manufacturing industry but ultimately leaving it in ruins.

"This is a problem created by industry and the failure of the market," Mr Dargavel said.

"It's an increasing tendency of companies to try and pull these stunts under corporations law where they'll liquidate one entity and set up another entity and claim that they have no obligations to employees.

"We're concerned that Venture is playing games ... and are trying to put pressure on the car producers to give them some arrangements that they might otherwise not have and our members are being used as cannon fodder."

Victorian Premier John Brumby urged the parties to quickly resolve the issue, adding the threat of stand downs across the industry was unwelcome.

"We hope it's resolved, I hope it's resolved today. If it's resolved today then there is no threat in terms of stand downs in any other industries."

Comment was tonight still being sought from Venture.

[phillyc]

I feel sorry for the workers being used as pawns in this battle.

What are the chances of the "Ford SACKS 1200 workers without pay" making the biased headlines tonight? As good as 100%

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by phillyc

I feel sorry for the workers being used as pawns in this battle.

What are the chances of the "Ford SACKS 1200 workers without pay" making the biased headlines tonight? As good as 100%

I agree, Ford does not need this at all. And even though its not there fault they will be made out to look like the bad guys.

[fou_bleu]

Well Ford has officially lost its reputation in Aus! :( I wouldn't bother going for a job at Ford now! /shakes head...

[superpursuit83]

Thats sad, so is maybe the delivery of my new xr. It was in Trim yesterday.

[4Vman]

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

[MAGPIE]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

And where do these people fit in ?

most of Venture's 242-strong workforce would be sacked without redundancy entitlements to cut costs.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by superpursuit83

Thats sad, so is maybe the delivery of my new xr. It was in Trim yesterday.

If its in trim then you'll be waiting a while as the bumpers (that come from Venture) havent been made yet (well depends on which trim line they're on).

Originally Posted by 4Vman

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

I seriously hope Venture go under, these guys were the only company that supplied Ford that didn't have to worry about the slow down in Fords sales.
Then saying that, Ford should have never sold it's plastics plant in the first place.


I'm surprised, when the guys at ford were stood down last year (from industrial action) they got 60% of they're pay.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by vztrt

If its in trim then you'll be waiting a while as the bumpers (that come from Venture) havent been made yet (well depends on which trim line they're on).




I seriously hope Venture go under, these guys were the only company that supplied Ford that didn't have to worry about the slow down in Fords sales.
Then saying that, Ford should have never sold it's plastics plant in the first place.

I'm surprised, when the guys at ford were stood down last year (from industrial action) they got 60% of they're pay.

What makes you think that Venture didnt suffer from reduced Ford volumes? Parts that Venture supplies are based on numbers of cars produced by Ford, and as such Venture closelly follows Ford fortunes...Venture revenue is dependent on Ford volumes , next time get your facts right. As for you wishing for Venture to go under, thats just plain nasty..

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

What makes you think that Venture didnt suffer from reduced Ford volumes? Parts that Venture supplies are based on numbers of cars produced by Ford, and as such Venture closelly follows Ford fortunes...Venture revenue is dependent on Ford volumes , next time get your facts right. As for you wishing for Venture to go under, thats just plain nasty..

BS, they're contract was based on a set number. Ford still had to pay for parts that it didn't buy. I was there during the cost cutting measures and Ford coudn't do anything with venture.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by vztrt

BS, they're contract was based on a set number. Ford still had to pay for parts that it didn't buy. I was there during the cost cutting measures and Ford coudn't do anything with venture.

Well ,i can tell you that Venture gets payed per part delivered.

[congo3sr]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

I would say the people that have decided to take this action didnt take it lightly,and there union wouldnt have pushed it,as most other suppliers,and indeed ford workers are represented by them as well.striking is the last thing anyone wants.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

You clearly don't know what are you talking about, in which case better stay out of this discussion.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

You clearly don't know what are you talking about, in which case better stay out of this discussion.

Insightfull... care to explain yourself?

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Insightfull... care to explain yourself?

Workers that are currently on strike are "genuine" workers as you call them. They are not selfish in any way but rather desperate. Noone strikes without a good reason. All avenues for peacefull resolution were exhousted before strike happened.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Workers that are currently on strike are "genuine" workers as you call them. They are not selfish in any way but rather desperate. Noone strikes without a good reason. All avenues for peacefull resolution were exhousted before strike happened.

How many workers actually wanted to strike?? how many had a choice?? its usually the rabid minority who start this stuff.
How in gods name is loosing X numbers of days pay yourself and potentially jeopardising the very survival of the company you work for as well as the flow on effect to the company's they supply (Ford) as well as all the other suppliers to Ford who loose sales because Ford cant use the parts to manufacture cars smart???
I don't care what the problems are at ventura, striking is IMO plain selfish and STUPID :togo: .

[irish2]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Workers that are currently on strike are "genuine" workers as you call them. They are not selfish in any way but rather desperate. Noone strikes without a good reason. All avenues for peacefull resolution were exhousted before strike happened.

John Howards new laws have now introduced a $22000 dollar fine for people on "illegal strike actions". Not so long ago myself and fellow co-workers would strike not for pay conditions, but for safety concerns that sometimes caused injury or death. The builders would only rectify the problem if the labour was withdrawn and the cost of lost productivity was worse that the cost of rectification. Since this fine was introduced I have worked on some of the most dangerous sites I have ever seen. The unions no longer have right of entry whilst injuries and deaths just become facts and figures. I hope these workers are not fined for trying to get what they are owed.

[stupa]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Noone strikes without a good reason.

My muffin was cold

[Wally]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

What a futile waste of time and money... i feel for all the genuine workers who clearly just wanted to go to work and earn their pay...
Ironically the selfish few who cause or call these strikes end up costing themselves and their co-workers more money in lost earnings from not working that they gain from the resolution, and cause untold damage and expense to their employer, which ultimately jeopardises their job security...

There are better ways to seek a solution to a dispute, striking is the stupidest.

So if you were made redundant and found out your superannuation top up, accumulated sick pay, accumulated long service, etc which was part of your salary/wage packet was not going to be honoured, you'd just walk away without a whimper?

You sound just the right sought of employee I'm looking for. I would think us capitalist business owners need more of your kind (we have an obligation to the shareholders you know :evil3: ) to make Australia strong...... that's why we run profitable business' you know, to make Australia strong and look after the welfare of employees. LOL.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by Wally

So if you were made redundant and found out your superannuation top up, accumulated sick pay, accumulated long service, etc which was part of your salary/wage packet was not going to be honoured, you'd just walk away without a whimper?

You sound just the right sought of employee I'm looking for. I would think us capitalist business owners need more of your kind (we have an obligation to the shareholders you know :evil3: ) to make Australia strong...... that's why we run profitable business' you know, to make Australia strong and look after the welfare of employees. LOL.

Ok, for starters the staff have a legally binding entitlement to their super, annual leave and long service leave (after 6 years of service) BY LAW... Black and White.. so they can take legal action to recover it should they leave, be made redundant or the company fold.
As far a sick leave goes unless you take it because you're sick why on earth would you be entitled to have it paid out if you leave?????

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Ok, for starters the staff have a legally binding entitlement to their super, annual leave and long service leave (after 6 years of service) BY LAW... Black and White.. so they can take legal action to recover it should they leave, be made redundant or the company fold.
As far a sick leave goes unless you take it because you're sick why on earth would you be entitled to have it paid out if you leave?????

It may be law mate,but the way corporations are structured if they close the doors,open up somewhere else under another entity the chances of them getting any money are nill,the banks will get first crack at any money and the poor old worker will be way down on the list.
I have seen this happen many times,funny how when they are making a heap they say "I deserve every cent" but when something like this happens,and they havent funded the employees super and entitlements properly,the directors get to bankrupt the company,close the doors,and not have a cent of their personal millions available for the employees,
I know of more than a few companies in my industry not paying the payg tax contributions,simply bankrupting and trading under another one the very next day,it went on for a while mind you,and the tax departement had the hide to go after the workers,who never saw this money,one company owner still drives around in a lamboghini this very day,and is still trading under some name.Thankfully the unions took action and the principal contractor was made to pay the tax owed.

[4Vman]

Originally Posted by nugget378

It may be law mate,but the way corporations are structured if they close the doors,open up somewhere else under another entity the chances of them getting any money are nill,the banks will get first crack at any money and the poor old worker will be way down on the list.
I have seen this happen many times,funny how when they are making a heap they say "I deserve every cent" but when something like this happens,and they havent funded the employees super and entitlements properly,the directors get to bankrupt the company,close the doors,and not have a cent of their personal millions available for the employees,
I know of more than a few companies in my industry not paying the payg tax contributions,simply bankrupting and trading under another one the very next day,it went on for a while mind you,and the tax departement had the hide to go after the workers,who never saw this money,one company owner still drives around in a lamboghini till this very day,and is still trading inder some name.Thankfully the unions took action and the principal contractor was made to pay the tax owed.

This is a very complicated area of law mate, and a very complicated scenario to enter but as briefly as i know from talking to my solicitor and getting business advice:
If they deliberatly (or otherwise) bankrupt the company without making provisions for payment of employee entitlements and payment of taxes they face a VERY real risk of going to jail.
On top of that they also may forfeit any dividend or profit distribution payments back as far as a few years, they can ask for these to be returned, not to mention seizure of Director and company assets to be sold to pay out these Taxes and benefits.
Forensic accountants will comb the books going back a few years and look for trends, shifting of funds or assets and all the little things that may have been done.
Under the new laws the directors are in big POO if they don't payout the staff entitlements prescribed by law, things have changed recently and ASIC and the Tax dept don't muck around...
The unsecured creditors like suppliers come second to the tax dept, staff and secured creditors like the bank etc..
In any event im not sure how hurting the profitability of this business by striking will make their entitlements and more secure.. id say it would have the exact opposite effect.

[steamin63]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Ok, for starters the staff have a legally binding entitlement to their super, annual leave and long service leave (after 6 years of service) BY LAW... Black and White.. so they can take legal action to recover it should they leave, be made redundant or the company fold.
As far a sick leave goes unless you take it because you're sick why on earth would you be entitled to have it paid out if you leave?????

firstly, who pays for the "legal action " if the workplace ombudsman refuses to persue the matter [which is more often the case] , the employee ,usually thousands of dollars.

secondly, payouts for sick leave are built into some eba"s as a productivity bonus. if you dont use your sick leave you get a percentage of those hours paid out in cash usually between 50 & 75 percent. incentive not to take 'sickies'.

thirdly, some one else mentioned national service. it costs $200,000 just to put one soldier through basic training.who in their right mind would waste $1 on some one who would not want to be there any way. i agree kids today are generally f@cked up but the army is not the answer. the problem lays with society and the parents. the people who make this statement usually dont know which end of a styer the round comes out of.

cheers.

[CAT600]

Originally Posted by steamin63

thirdly, some one else mentioned national service. it costs $200,000 just to put one soldier through basic training.who in their right mind would waste $1 on some one who would not want to be there any way. i agree kids today are generally f@cked up but the army is not the answer. the problem lays with society and the parents. the people who make this statement usually dont know which end of a styer the round comes out of.

cheers.

I appreciate the fact that you wrote "usually" as the cap does not fit here. I have been brought up by a militarian father who has seen elite service and who had brothers serve as "Nashos" it worked for them, myself and all my cousins. We are respectful, decent people between the ages of 14 and 64.

National service works, and would work if implemented. You rip a 17 year old $h!thead away from his little mates and his mummy and drop him back into society after 2 years in the services. I guarantee you will get your money back over the course of his life, in taxes (harder working), lower welfare costs (less inclined to lay on a beach smokin' dope) and lower public services expenses (crime reduction) to name a few reasons. Not to mention a defense force that would'nt be stretched by both a trip to Dili and sandbagging a flood in north Queensland happening at the same time.

Instilling respect and discipline is something the armed forces has/does/will continue to do, without fail on people of this age. Parents, as a general rule, have proven they are not capable of bringing children up properly for the last 20 - 30 years. Do you have a better alternative?

Daniel

[Wally]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Ok, for starters the staff have a legally binding entitlement to their super, annual leave and long service leave (after 6 years of service) BY LAW... Black and White.. so they can take legal action to recover it should they leave, be made redundant or the company fold.
As far a sick leave goes unless you take it because you're sick why on earth would you be entitled to have it paid out if you leave?????

Like I suggested, you are just the type of employee that suits Workchoices. A no hastle type guy that won't cause trouble when it comes to redundancy provisons, especially as the employer is entitled by law to use the funds as he sees fit, which will probably be some phantom venture that went leg up.

One thing's for sure, once the liduidators move in there won't be any money for anyone else except the tax man. You just have to pray that there is a relative of John Howard going to get stiffed and then you'll get federal payoffs, obviously not from the paper shuffling public servant's Future Fund though.

[Bobman]

Ford Australia have been digging their own grave for some time now.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Bobman

Ford Australia have been digging their own grave for some time now.

So your blaming ford for a problem created by they're supplier?

[irish2]

If you don't stand up for your rights however you work like a Vietnamese shoe maker. 70 hours a week for $1 an hour. The withdrawal of labour from the workforce has been an effective tool in helping us become a wealthy nation. It is not money lost from not working it is money gained by not working for a company that is ripping you off because of a dodgy law that should be changed. Company's often go under leaving many workers out of poket and resurface a month later to buy the boss his next million dollar mansion. We only heard about this attempt to rip off the workers because it is larger than normal.

Some people will say "so what, people get sacked everyday. Why are these people making others lives harder?" These people would be payed redundancy entitlements if sacked but the company is using the fact it can change its name and basically strip all funds from the old company to declare bankruptcy and start fresh without any regard for the people who earn them their profit and are just trying to pay the bills.

[Super Snake]

This is all caused by John Howards Industrial laws. He has made sure that ordinary workers have a hard time in negotiating their future wages.
This is only the start, there will be more striff coming from other companies trying to shaft their workers, and they too will affect Ford and also the other 3 here in Australia.
If you are currently on an EBA, the employer can terminate it anytime they wish.
If you want to go on strike, you have to get permission from the Commission, and then after a few weeks, you can go on strike.
I think that the workers at Venture have done this, and if they haven't, the employer can sue for costs, which the employees would have to pay.

So, give these workers a go. They are just asking what is owed to them.
Unfortunately, Ford and their workers are going to suffer as well.

[mik]

if venture is opening up elsewere and and shafting there workers good on the unions for sticking up for them, this country owes unions a lot imo, and spiraling wages is not the only problem its also spiraling taxes which we have in abundance, and the reason for no skilled labour should be blamed on the current government its their policies and lack of foresight that have caused these problems, but its always easier to blame unions and the little people.