Ion Automotive to sack 400 staff

[DRU842]

Tuesday March 29, 2005, 6:53 pm

Four hundred workers at car parts maker Ion Automotive's plant at Wingfield in South Australia have been told they are about to lose their jobs.

The troubled company's administrators say they cannot sell the Wingfield plant as a going concern and they are winding it down.

The administrators blame the flawed expectations and massive cost overruns of the previous management for the closure.

The Wingfield plant employs 150 permanent staff and 250 casuals.

The administrator says employee entitlements are secure.

SA Industry Minister Paul Holloway says today's announcement is unfortunate and the Government will continue to work to find a buyer for the Wingfield site.

The Australian Workers Union says today is a dark day for manufacturing in South Australia.

Branch organiser Peter Lamps is calling for the State Government to step in and make sure Ion's North Plympton and Kilkenny plants do not suffer the same fate.

"The State Government actually needs to roll up its sleeves and show a tangible effort rather than just talking with the administrators and talking to people," Mr Lamps said

http://au.biz.yahoo.com/050329/31/3vw5.html

Can't be good news for the industry & what about the other plants?