[SuperSnake]

More changes going on at hOlden

HOLDEN workers are facing wage cuts as the Australian car maker looks to reduce costs and remain viable.
The company's Adelaide workforce has been approached to consider pay reductions in the midst of challenging manufacturing times.
Holden wants to make significant annual savings and productivity improvements.
The news follows Ford's announcement last month to cease production by 2016, cutting 1200 jobs at its Victorian plants in the process. That will mean the end of the Falcon nameplate.
Holden, unions and employee representatives met today to discuss labour related cost reductions. Any changes to employees' conditions will require a vote by the workforce.
Unable to make the trip to Elizabeth today due to poor weather, Holden chairman and managing director Mike Devereux said opening discussions was a difficult but critical step towards securing the future of automotive manufacturing in Australia.

"The ongoing speculation about the future of the industry affects our employees and their families; they're doing it tough right now and we appreciate their resilience and commitment," Mr Devereux said.

"This is about giving Holden employees a direct say in their future. We can't survive as a local manufacturer if we're not competitive and we don't reduce our costs.

"All options for improving productivity are on the table. We will work closely with the unions and our people to develop a fair and reasonable proposal in line with other local manufacturers across all industries."

Over the past two years Holden has made a number of changes across the business to reduce costs and better position itself in the market.

"Every person in this company is doing everything they can to secure Holden's future as a local manufacturer," Mr Devereux said.

"We've re-rated the production line at Elizabeth and made significant investments in our locally-made vehicles like the new VF Commodore, which is the most advanced car ever created in Australia.

"Holden is aggressively pricing and marketing its cars to compete against imports which benefit from the high Australian dollar and the country's internationally low tariff levels.

"Holden has to be globally competitive, and so does the country's industry policy. As a local manufacturer Holden is asking for a fair go - Australia must be able to compete fairly on the world stage.

"We need clear, consistent and competitive government policy to help secure a long-term future for manufacturing."

Details of the discussions with unions and employees will remain confidential until the Holden workforce vote.

Holden workers face pay cuts to stay in operation | CQ News

 

[chevypwr]

Maybe slow sales will motivate Chevy to pull their head out of their ass and offer a no charge manual trans and some serious incentives.

or they will deal with the slow sales, make very little changes and make up the loss elsewhere.

 

[brianch]

Lol.

Bring on the manual transmission!

 

[RPM]

I wonder if the Holden execs took a pay cut before going after the workers pay cheques.

 

[jat63]

I wonder if the Holden execs took a pay cut before going after the workers pay cheques.

that was a hot topic on radio this morning, will they or wont they get a bonus for taking back the payrise they handed out last year,

Asylum could give us an idea of what is going on.

 

[Commodoreman2000]

I wouldn't push Asylum too hard as he may not be able to say much if anything. It's big decisions here for these workers.
Take a possible paycut or face no job.
I'm really hoping the dollar drops to below 90 cents and fast as it could open the scope to export more cars, hopefully manuals and wagons and utes for all.

 

[admonite]

They aren't smart enough

I wonder if the Holden execs took a pay cut before going after the workers pay cheques.

Most executives aren't smart enough to make sure they take a cut before cutting their workers pay. If they did that it would motivate their workers and give them the impression everyone, including management, is facing the tough times together. They'd rather demotivate and scare for short term results, then just close up shop and scratch their heads when it doesn't work in the long term.

 

[chevypwr]

I wouldn't push Asylum too hard as he may not be able to say much if anything. It's big decisions here for these workers.
Take a possible paycut or face no job.
I'm really hoping the dollar drops to below 90 cents and fast as it could open the scope to export more cars, hopefully manuals and wagons and utes for all.

hopefully, just going to have to play the waiting game and see how things go over the next couple years. it might be negative thinking but i wont expect much change to happen, if things to happen ....awesomee!

 

[Asylum]

Yes unfortunately we had the news broken to us on Tuesday. (After it was leaked to the media and flat out denied by the union as usual!) A lot of the details are untrue and we haven't been told any specifics but definitely going to be an interesting couple of months ahead.

 

[brianch]

^ Do you work for GM or Holden?

 

[chevypwr]

Yes unfortunately we had the news broken to us on Tuesday. (After it was leaked to the media and flat out denied by the union as usual!) A lot of the details are untrue and we haven't been told any specifics but definitely going to be an interesting couple of months ahead.

seems like you work for GM/Holden. If you could keep us updated with info it would be great as it may affect us. Helps to have info from the inside ance:

 

[RPM]

Uh oh. He's blown his cover .

But seriously, any updates would be appreciated.