holden seeks worker pay cuts in adelaide

The big pay packets slowly ending as company's are fighting to survive.


Holden seeks worker pay cuts in Adelaide

From: AAP
June 18, 2013 3:21PM



CARMAKER Holden will ask its Adelaide workforce to take a pay cut to help its assembly plant remain viable.

The company says it will seek the support of the workforce to achieve significant annual savings and productivity improvements.

Any changes to wages and conditions will require a vote by the workforce.

Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux said opening discussions with its workers in Adelaide was a difficult but critical step towards securing the future of automotive manufacturing in Australia.

"This is about giving Holden employees a direct say in their future," Mr Devereux said in a statement today.

"We can't survive as a local manufacturer if were not competitive and we don't reduce our costs."

Mr Devereux said all options for improving productivity were on the table and the company would work closely with unions and workers to develop a fair and reasonable proposal in line with other local manufacturers across all industries.

Holden recently announced plans to axe 400 jobs at its Adelaide vehicle assembly operations and a further 100 at its product development facility in Melbourne in the face of tough market conditions.

Earlier this year, Ford announced it would stop making cars in Australia, costing 510 jobs at Geelong and 650 at Broadmeadows.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/holden-to-try-to-cut-wages-in-south-australia/story-fn91v9q3-1226665716594