Ford, union in ‘deal’ over woker payouts

Andrew Mathieson
FORD has reached an in-principle agreement over a revised payout deal with Geelong workers set to lose their jobs.
Australian Manufacturers Workers Union, which represented Ford employees at the Industrial Relations Commission, will meet the commissioner today to finalise a formal recommendation.
Union vehicle division secretary Ian Jones said all shop stewards and occupational groups at the Geelong factory had approved the deal.
Mr Jones said the union would run mass meetings with members next week to discuss the package.
“In the context of the arrangements that we’ve reached with the company, they’re supported by all unions in the bargaining team right across Ford’s operations,” Mr Jones said.
Members had rejected the company’s initial redundancy offer, accusing Ford of breaking a promise it made to workers last year when announcing 600 job losses.
The union said Ford had withdrawn an “enhanced voluntary severance package” that had become an industry standard between all car manufacturers.
Mr Jones refused to reveal details of the new settlement package until he had discussed it with members.
But he said the union had resolved other issues related to the job losses such as arrangements for closure of the redundant part of the factory, further outsourcing and a restructuring program.
“We’ve tackled all the outstanding issues that workers have been concerned about,” Mr Jones said.
“We’re pretty comfortable that the outcomes are going to meet their expectations.”
Mr Jones said Ford was still “a good employer” even though his union had to drag the company into the Industrial Relations Commission for an adequate workers’ redundancy package.
He said resolving industrial problems before new Ford Australia president Bill Osborne took over was a priority.
Ford plans to cut jobs from its Geelong plant by 2010 when it stops production of its six-cylinder engine for an imported V6.
Ford has told the Independent it will not comment on issues before the IRC.