MORE Bad news for Ford Aust, another 450 job cuts just announced.

[Mondie]

The new President of Ford Australia, Marin Burela, has just finished a press conference announcing another 450 job cuts in addition to the 350 announced less than 8 weeks ago. l fear that Ford may not survive locally, l am however impressed that Burela understands the local market, has the Worldwide experience within the Ford Empire and thus gives FOA the best chance they have to pull the company through the inevitable difficult times now, and that lay ahead. Thank god FOA is not being run by an American right now!

My thoughts go out to all those loosing their jobs, Geelong must really be feeling the pinch right now.

Cheers,
mondie

[rodderz]

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

[4Vman]

Ford employs about 4700 people at its Victorian plants -- 2300 factory floor workers and 2400 in areas such as engineering, administration, marketing and design.
That's 1400 jobs over the next 3 years, or 30% of their workforce... about right considering their current position.

[Supercharged]

Sad to see, all those people that purchased imported cars will in the end be effected in some way they just don't know it yet.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by FG Turbo Ute

Sad to see, all those people that purchased imported cars will in the end be effected in some way they just don't know it yet.

True and pity the government hasn't recognised this either

[bob^]

Originally Posted by Mondie

My thoughts go out to all those loosing their jobs, Geelong must really be feeling the pinch right now.

I still don't see what the real big fuss is about. No one is being forced to go yet, it's all voluntary, and you get a nice package to go with it.
I've personally had enough of the doom and gloom, I'm surrounded by it every day there. No one has had a gun pointed to their heads..yet.
The only ones that can lose their jobs without a package are the ones that were recently employed on a contract basis anyway!

[dreadly]

Damm straight! Why the %$#& does this government do this?? Hell their should be an import tax on anything other than Aussie cars. Ford, Holden maybe Mitsubishi and toyota because they had manufactures plants (some models only)
Now by slugging all other makers witha high tax lets say at least 20% it'd make you think twice indeed! We need hyundai, daewoo, kia, dihatsu, suzuki, etc banned!!! Why the hell are they here make people save another yr or 2 or buy a quality used car instead!!! If it wasnt for Ford Australia we may be saluting a red sun and be ran by japs?! Ford make those fuel tanks and bommers get to new guinea?
So its just un Australian to be doing so!!! We need a poster saying buy a ford show your not a terrorist ;) lol Hahaha but the problem really lies in that Ford Australia is not that..... We want, need and deserve our own Ford company not a name giving profits to the U.S.... We want it as a registered company on the ASX buy our own shares.. and decide want products, advertising etc we should have, how many employees etc!!!

[irlewy86]

Originally Posted by dreadly

Damm straight! Why the %$#& does this government do this?? Hell their should be an import tax on anything other than Aussie ...........et al

Wow, I'm just blown away. You truely are a master of glovbal ecconomics, business ethics and protectionism.

[RPO83]

Originally Posted by irlewy86

Wow, I'm just blown away. You truely are a master of glovbal ecconomics, business ethics and protectionism.

Protectionism gave us a lack of choice, a lack of quality and a lack of service. There was a damn good reason why the 'Button Plan' was implemented and supported by both sides of government.

Burela told it straight at the press conference today and clearly acknowledged that this move was not taken lightly.

[Supercharged]

Perhaps a sticker on the back of the cars isn't such a bad idea.
Say something like, Australian Built, Australian Jobs, benefits all Australians.

[balthazarr]

Originally Posted by RPO83

Protectionism gave us a lack of choice, a lack of quality and a lack of service. There was a damn good reason why the 'Button Plan' was implemented and supported by both sides of government.

Burela told it straight at the press conference today and clearly acknowledged that this move was not taken lightly.

I understand the principle behind abolishing protectionism. I really do. The problem is, how can we possibly compete on a "level playing field"?

You may argue that tariffs create an uneven playing field, giving an advantage to locally produced goods. My argument is, they restore the balance... how can we possibly compete with cars produced in countries where they pay their workers 5c/day (if they're lucky), have horrific working conditions, etc.?

We can't... unless everyone wants to start working for 5c/day.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by balthazarr

I understand the principle behind abolishing protectionism. I really do. The problem is, how can we possibly compete on a "level playing field"?

You may argue that tariffs create an uneven playing field, giving an advantage to locally produced goods. My argument is, they restore the balance... how can we possibly compete with cars produced in countries where they pay their workers 5c/day (if they're lucky), have horrific working conditions, etc.?

We can't... unless everyone wants to start working for 5c/day.

Correct and its not just the cost of labor, look at all the costs and taxes imposed by governments and then compare them with overseas countries, there needs to be some balance otehrwise we stand the risk of losing a lot of industry and once its gone it wont come back.

The governemnt is talking about reducing tarriffs to 5% in 2010 at the same time, they are on course to implement a carbon trading scheme which will increase manufacturing costs and make it more difficult to compete.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by RPO83

Protectionism gave us a lack of choice, a lack of quality and a lack of service. There was a damn good reason why the 'Button Plan' was implemented and supported by both sides of government.

Couldn't have said it better.
High tariffs will only introduce further inferior products to the public.

While it is bad that people are losing their jobs, a lot of this blame has more to do with the way Ford was managed not the government. Ford had numerous occasions to build cars people wanted but drove their head further into the sand. Bringing the Focus and Fiesta was a good start but simply bringing them here and relying on themselves to sell isn't going to work.

When the BA arrived it was a great leap for Ford Aus, it finally brought them up a step in terms of design and function. Still though lagged too far behind in terms of quality and service. Of course they didn't bother doing anything about it and introduced the BF and BF2. FG was supposed to be the be all and end all for the Falcon, it was a good launch but they still failed to hit the mark. where is the updated LPG systems? Diesel? Territory facelift? Can't afford to do this? Shouldn't be complaining, possibly even manufacturing here. Times have changed, Ford hasn't.

[gtfpv]

come on come on . we are in a recession . in a recession people do not buy new cars. bigger cars especially . if 450 people go , and they get a good package then i think good for them . but it is just me .

[csv8]

In Queensland, BMW sales are up 60%. Courier Mail 15/10/08.
Recession ???

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by csv8

In Queensland, BMW sales are up 60%. Courier Mail 15/10/08.
Recession ???

. wealthy people can still buy BMW'S.

[atec77]

Originally Posted by gtfpv

. wealthy people can still buy BMW'S.

Look at the figures , the cost of a top end falcadore equals a beemer or merc.. the std Eurocar is more highly kitted ( I have several older examples)I figure what is needed is a diesel falcon/other models and a decent lpg system factory .

[Airmon]

We set a record for car sales in the first half of this year, 540,000units I think?
That's alot of BMWs

[Gobes32]

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=oMOBqRVDOYQ

Maybe Ford Aus will be more productive if they adopt the above tactics?

[uranium_death]

What annoys me is that when Ford release a new, fantastic car, the media coverage is crap.
When Holden releases an inferior car, it's a National holiday.

When bad news comes out about Ford, it's everywhere, and out loud.

I wish the media would help the industry by being a little more positive when warranted.

[Bossxr8]

I've got a great idea for Steve Bracks, lets lower tariffs even more so that other countries will follow suit and do the same thing, then we will sell our cars all over the world and the foreigners will take to them with open arms and wallets.

Get out of fantasy land you frkn to55er. If you don't do whatever it takes to save the local industry it will just about be totally gone in 5 years, now is the point of no return. They need all the help they can get.

[rodderz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I've got a great idea for Steve Bracks, lets lower tariffs even more so that other countries will follow suit and do the same thing, then we will sell our cars all over the world and the foreigners will take to them with open arms and wallets.

Get out of fantasy land you frkn to55er. If you don't do whatever it takes to save the local industry it will just about be totally gone in 5 years, now is the point of no return. They need all the help they can get.

The government can in a way control this situation and save a heap of local jobs by controlling how much tax and tariffs there are on local vs imported cars. Perhaps if they made imported cars more expensive the local plants, plus the 1000's of employees that work for suppliers, could keep working.

Buyers of imported cars won't be happy but all we seem to be doing by allowing such cheap cars here is supporting another country's economy instead of our own. media doesn't help either, local cars here get a reeming because they flog them for being heavier and thirster

[HSE2]

Originally Posted by rodderz

The government can in a way control this situation and save a heap of local jobs by controlling how much tax and tariffs there are on local vs imported cars. Perhaps if they made imported cars more expensive the local plants, plus the 1000's of employees that work for suppliers, could keep working.

Buyers of imported cars won't be happy but all we seem to be doing by allowing such cheap cars here is supporting another country's economy instead of our own. media doesn't help either, local cars here get a reeming because they flog them for being heavier and thirster

We have just seen the lengths to which the Government can act when they think the consequences are dire enough.

I can see both points of view on this one but there is something wrong when companies can take their business offshore and import the same product for less. By and large that can only happen for a few reasons.

Eventually, if we aren't careful we will have no manufacturing industry in this country. A global free will is fine in essence, provided everyone is playing with the same deck of cards. Clearly that isn't then case and clearly we should not be leading the way in such matters.

Increased quality and choice has occurred, the numbers reflect the growing trend towards imports. When that goes too far a correction has to be made.

Two years ago a work colleague was on a flight between Detroit and I think LA. He was wearing his HSV racing jacket and was seated next to a gentleman who took a great deal of interest in his attire. It turned out this mystery chappie was an exec from GM. To cut a long story short this person’s prediction was that there would be no automotive industry in Australian by 2015 and that included Toyota and GM.

Two years ago that was hard to image. I was reminded of the fact yesterday and it’s not looking too far off the mark the way things are going.

Companies should not be allowed to close manufacturing bases in this country to go off shore to places where global considerations aren't to our standards. We prattle on about our economic and environmental duty of care, well willingly and easily facilitating such actions is just as bad. Such companies should have very stiff penalties applied to them. If they still want to go off shore fine, they pay the penalty for doing so.
We can now see that every country has a “look out for number one” policy. That wasn’t completely evident when the button plan was introduced.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by rodderz

The government can in a way control this situation and save a heap of local jobs by controlling how much tax and tariffs there are on local vs imported cars. Perhaps if they made imported cars more expensive the local plants, plus the 1000's of employees that work for suppliers, could keep working.

Buyers of imported cars won't be happy but all we seem to be doing by allowing such cheap cars here is supporting another country's economy instead of our own. media doesn't help either, local cars here get a reeming because they flog them for being heavier and thirster

The catch with this thinking is I wouldn't trust Ford management or their customer relationship people to organise my shopping, let alone sell me a competitive, well engineered and high quality vehicle.

Don't get me wrong the Terri and Falcon are light years ahead of what went before them, but I just couldnt justify propping up an American company that is poorly managed and takes our money from taxes when things are bad, and sends our money back to the US when things are good. They have never made the proper committment and investment in Australia and the fact the Falcon has no serious export markets is proof enough of that.

Dan

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by DanielXR8

The catch with this thinking is I wouldn't trust Ford management or their customer relationship people to organise my shopping, let alone sell me a competitive, well engineered and high quality vehicle.

Don't get me wrong the Terri and Falcon are light years ahead of what went before them, but I just couldnt justify propping up an American company that is poorly managed and takes our money from taxes when things are bad, and sends our money back to the US when things are good. They have never made the proper commitment and investment in Australia and the fact the Falcon has no serious export markets is proof enough of that.

Very good, honest reply but I would love the chance to defend Ford Oz.

Ford Oz do send the profits overseas but they pay a multitude of taxes just like any other major Australian business. Payroll tax, Tax on earnings, 1000's of employees paying Income tax. Imagine what that amounts to over 80 years?????

Ford has been in Oz for near or over 80 years now and has invested millions upon millions in infrastructure and employee training. How many apprentices have been through the two major plants? The mind boggles. Marin Brunela used to be a Geelong employee, he is now president of the whole operation! Ford have given so much to Australia.

As to your last point, It is a very sore point that Ford HQ absolutely adore the Falcon and Territory but the chances of us exporting there, ZERO!!!! Their union is so strong and will not allow a car that greatly competes with their own product to enter the country. And so they shouldn't. Our cars make theirs look like the garbage they are. Reports came through that the first time Alan Mulally traveled in a G6E Turbo he nearly fell over at the fact that a little island in the Pacific could produce such a fast, well engineered car. That's what the shop floor employees were told anyway.

As for other export markets, It now seems that Tom Gorman was a major catalyst for undoing Geoff Polities hard work. Diesel territory, don't need it. Left hand drive Orion, pfft, who needs that. The guy was a schmuck. I apologize for him. But you let an accountant run a factory and it inevitably happens.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

What annoys me is that when Ford release a new, fantastic car, the media coverage is crap.
When Holden releases an inferior car, it's a National holiday.

When bad news comes out about Ford, it's everywhere, and out loud.

I wish the media would help the industry by being a little more positive when warranted.

It's Mitsubishi all over again. If eventually everybody keeps saying the same thing then eventually it comes true..........

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by acosta32

It's Mitsubishi all over again. If eventually everybody keeps saying the same thing then eventually it comes true..........

Seems like once the media see blood they go in for the kill. They must love the way it creates headlines.

Vultures.

[Gobes32]

The hilarious thing is that there is more danger of Toyota shutting. hahaha

They're plant runs seven days 24 hours and they still can't keep up. The news that I get from there is that one day Toyota will shut down Altona because the plant just isn't big enough and cannot be made bigger. Ironic that they are the victims of their own success.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by acosta32

The hilarious thing is that there is more danger of Toyota shutting. hahaha

They're plant runs seven days 24 hours and they still can't keep up. The news that I get from there is that one day Toyota will shut down Altona because the plant just isn't big enough and cannot be made bigger. Ironic that they are the victims of their own success.

My mate who works for Toyota recons they are losing $2000 on every Camry they export due to the higher aussie dollar. This may have eased a bit lately but even now they may only be breaking even, and exports make up well more than half what they produce.

And since Toyota make the Camry in 7 plants globaly its not hard for them to shut down Altona and just import them from elsewhere.


Just heard on the news that Holden will be cutting production now too.

[Gobes32]

The other option is we all work for a bowl of rice so as to maintain competition with Asian workforces. And do away with all OH&S laws. There is a reason they can make a brand new car less than 10K.