Hundreds of Holden workers at Elizabeth plant in Adelaide accept voluntary redundanci

[KIWI-1]

Four-hundred workers at Holden's Elizabeth car plant in Adelaide have taken voluntary redundancies and will finish work on Friday.
The future of Holden in Adelaide is still in doubt with the company expected to finalise its business plan in September.
Federation of Vehicle Industry Unions spokesman John Camillo says more than 500 workers put their hands up to take a separation package.
"It's a better situation than the situation of people being forced out the door with no choice whether they want to stay or not so, it's a good outcome for all, but it's a sad day for those 400 people," he said.
The redundancies come as independent expert Goran Roos conducts an investigation into Holden's books and manufacturing practices.
Mr Camillo says Professor Roos is expected to give an update on his findings this week.
"Professor Goran Roos will speak to all the shop stewards in regards to his findings and what he's found in regard to the company opening its books and cost structures," he said.
"The real issue will be at the end of July when the recommendation of his findings will be put to Holden and the Federation of Vehicle Industry Union."
On Thursday, Holden voiced concern about the Government's planned changes to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT), saying they could have a significant impact on the market for locally made new cars.
The Government announced the plan this week in an attempt to save $1.8 billion to offset the cost of moving from the fixed carbon price to a floating price a year early.
The changes mean drivers who buy cars using salary sacrifice schemes will have to keep detailed log books, breaking down their personal and business use.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-2...ancies/4833362

[jpd80]

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

[Iggle Piggle]

I put my hand up for a redundancy package but Holden knocked me back because I don't work there.

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

Two reasons, only 400 was the number needed to go, or...It's a case of you can volunteer to go but we actually want you to stay. It's a subtle way of keeping those considered too good to let go without having to do a more open "weeding of the garden".

[PepeLePew]

And given the potent demand for VF so widely advertised right now.....?

[Silver Ghia]

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

[BHDOGS]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

Not really plenty of work just not in what people like eg security/cleaning

[burnz]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

And given the potent demand for VF so widely advertised right now.....?

they are well over staffed, and if need more they will be "casual"

[mik]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

better to go at the start of the financial year than wait for the bullet later in the year when industry is not hiring.

[KIWI-1]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

Silly for those volunteering who haven't got work to go to when they leave. Finding work can be difficult these days.

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

[mrghia]

they can walk with a massive pay out there. my cousin took one yrs ago and walked with 150k and got a new job in a month. its not that had to get work over here. I took a package from my old work and finished up on a thursday and started my new job on the friday

[fte50]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

Damn those pathetic unions, if their members worked for $250 p/w they would still have a job !

[fte50]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

They still need enough resources to run their business.

[jpd80]

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

Well here's hoping production stays strong for the remaining workforce...

[burnz]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

so what are you trying to say, redundancies at the engine plant??

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by burnz

so what are you trying to say, redundancies at the engine plant??

I knew someone would bring that up...

Actually the intel says that V6 sales will come back as Holden gets on top of this V8 resurgence,
mate, the depth of Holden sales is phenomenal when they give buyers what they want,
a new V8 car after seven years of basically the same body, it was always going to happen.

[burnz]

hope it works out for them, my son said they have ordered 8% per month more steel which sounds positive..

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by jpd80

Someone attached to Elizabeth tells me that almost everything going through the plant is V8, very few V6s being built ATM
and that the Redline order bank has taken Holden by surprise in a good way, maybe this keeps the wolf from the door....

Well here's hoping production stays strong for the remaining workforce...

I'm not surprised about the Redline situation at all. When you look at the kit that's in a SS-V Redline they are going to steal sales from HSV in a major way IMO.

[janddbone]

Caprice still gets me interested! But obviously I am weird these days!

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by brett.r.johnstone

Caprice still gets me interested! But obviously I am weird these days!

I'd like to think that there's still a bit of Fairlane & LTD buried in our hearts...

[Bossxr8]

The Caprice is going down the same road as Fairlane/LTD, barely any money spent on it, selling bugger all and on it's last legs.

All it got was the new interior and no styling changes.

[BroadyFord]

Wonder what impact the FBT changes will have on all of this?

I sense that those 500 or so who volunteered for redundancy think that it's worth getting out now before having to be given the **** if and when Holden announces closure.

As for the V6 plant, Devereux has indicated it will close at the end of the VF given that (assuming they're still here) the next gen vehicles are likely to be 4 cylinder.

[janddbone]

Funny how a Government can get a change so backwards! FBT should be changed, it should only be available on Australian manufactured vehicles. Instead they manage to make it worse...

[BHDOGS]

I thought the only difference is now you had to prove you deserve a fbt with a log book? doesnt sound like a big deal

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

I thought the only difference is now you had to prove you deserve a fbt with a log book? doesnt sound like a big deal

It obviously does if your not using the vehicle for business purposes.

[Winter XR8]

Know a mate who works on the Holden production line and rocked up to work this morning and was told he no longer has a job.

[ford71V8]

Originally Posted by jpd80

I'm curious, 500 workers volunteered for the redundancy package but Holden accepted only 400 of them...

I have never worked at GM but many years ago I put my hand up when the company was asking for Voluntary Redundancies and I was knocked back.

Not very pleased, I went to the union rep for some advice.
He reckoned he had never heard of someone asking for Unfair Undismissal
I stayed but only until next time

[bigwil]

A little bit off topic, but if Holden do close down in a few years I think they should also retire the Holden name and just call themselves GM.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Winter XR8

Know a mate who works on the Holden production line and rocked up to work this morning and was told he no longer has a job.

Maybe your mate isn't telling you the full story.

There have been no forced redundancies.

Sounds like there may have been a performance issue with your mate?

[zilo]

Originally Posted by KIWI-1

A difficult decision for those who have been there a while.

The 2004 (varied 2008) EBA Voluntary Separation Program is:
4 weeks notice plus,
3.5 weeks for each completed year of service plus,
2 times member super contributions + interest OR if aged 55 and over a non-actuarially reduced benefit plus,
Up to 30 days unused sick leave plus,
Annual Leave loading (17.5% day shift, or shift penalty if > 17.5%) plus,
Pro-rata Long Service Leave after 5 years service plus,
Product purchase provisions for life if greater than 20 years service or aged 55 or over OR
Product purchase provisions for 9 months if less than 20 years service or less than 55 years of age plus,
Shift penalties plus,
Financial counselling $300 plus,
Outplacement services $600 plus,
3 days paid leave to organise affairs.

The media reported that the Union had negotiated a better VSP.

What a sickening list of burden onto a business.

I couldn't afford to employ any of them.

Yep...make cars overseas...that list is bull ****.