Thread for Geelong Ford workers

[JPFS1]

Originally Posted by Polyal

If I was Johnnie id be asking for my grant back. Stuff them, the money was meant to help the I6 with emissions etc, and now no engine.

The government grants are not CASH cheques paid in advance. They are like credits they are awarded when the money is FIRST SPENT by Ford. Just like the arrangement with LHD development.

The grant basically means they are entitled too, or eligable for those funds providing for committ to the program and spend the money.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by schmidty

For every buyer who's heart broken about the I6 being given the shove, there's probably 200 who will never even look under their bonnet, let alone care weather its a I or a V.

Thats a good post and it's full of facts.

80 % of Falcon sales are to fleets who only care about running costs and depreciation.

[bob^]

What's funny is how they didn't show people on TV who were still in good spirits and even cracking some jokes with the media.

[Tles]

Originally Posted by bob^

What's funny is how they didn't show people on TV who were still in good spirits and even cracking some jokes with the media.

Wouldn't want to see that, bit dull for Street talk.

[Dave_au]

Originally Posted by bob^

What's funny is how they didn't show people on TV who were still in good spirits and even cracking some jokes with the media.

Yeah I'm sure the ones who did go off for the cameras were asked well worded questions like "So how do you feel now you've been given the by some americans" or "How does being fired feel like" or "How will you afford the repayments on your Typhoon now" or "I bet you wished you worked for Toyota"

[Fordman1]

I think this has been missed by a lot of people:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=41783

Quote:

"Mr Gorman said he was focusing on raising production levels at the Broadmeadows plant, which has a rated capacity of 120,000 units a year but was only producing about 75,000 vehicles a year.
While a statement would be made soon, Mr Gorman indicated that a final decision had not yet been made on which model was to be added to the assembly line.

However, Gorman indicated it would involve panel-stamping activities, which would bolster the Geelong operations, which are to be reduced by the closure of the engine plant.

"No, it won't be a CKD (completely knocked down) operation. We would be looking at what we could do to basically add another product to our build capability, with all of the attendant benerfits that that may drive to us."

He said one of the alternatives being assessed would be based on the Falcon architecture, but the other candidate would be a "completely new product''. Speculation about this has centred on the Ford Focus small car, which is currently imported from South Africa."

I think there is good news coming for Ford Geelong employees.

The media have "beat Ford up" over the engine thing, lets see if they give as much coverage if the news above is announced (there was no mention of this on the news services a couple of days ago was there ?).

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Polyal

If I was Johnnie id be asking for my grant back. Stuff them, the money was meant to help the I6 with emissions etc, and now no engine.

ford are still going to put that money into a engine, just not the I6

[Mark351]

As always guys, we can assume there's a lot more to the story that the media are reporting and that Ford are letting on. It really sounds as if the've been forced to release bad news, whilst having to keep good news cards closer to their chests. The timing seems really poor for Ford given Orion is still months away, but one wonders who the timing IS good for...

[belz82]

okie dokie. i might add 5c to this thread. those of you who know me, know smciner1 (it's his fault you know me anyways). The first we heard of the closure was on the radio, lying in bed at 6am on Wednesday morning.

Being the feminine creature that I am i went into pants sh***ng mode. The radio merely reported that Engine Plant was to shut. Nothing else was said. so we both went into pants shi***ing mode. We've got a lot of plans we'd like to put into place in the next few years in regards to our lives, and well, obviously that depends on having an income.

From what I know, staff weren't told until their 1pm amwu meeting. From 6am to 1pm is a long time to be worried about whether your spouse still has a job, and for me, sad but true, my hair was actually falling out in lumps.

That's the only complaint I have, staff probably should've been told straight up, first thing in the morning. Having said that, I don't know the ins and outs of what goes on there, so there could have been any number of reasons why this did not happen until 1pm.

As others who have replied in this thread, 3 years is a long time... natural attrition in the plant will mean others will retire, some will just quit, some will leave... in the end it probably won't be nearly as doom and gloom as has been reported. Still not nice, but it's not the end of the world, and I'm sure all will be fine. At least, we like to think it will be. If there is no room for a transfer, then there will be packages, so either way we won't lose out too badly.

As someone else said, it's also much better than turning up on the day to find the gates locked and everyone kicked out, so you really can't ask for much more than 3 years notice.

just my 5 cents worth, and i'll chain myself back up to the kitchen sink now

belinda.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Type40

One reason he starts threads like this is because he is a perpetual stirrer. As mentioned by DaveAU he did this sort of thing on AMC till he got the big boot. I wouldnt take too much notice, he likes to load the load the gun and let everyone else fire the bullets. out:

I got that impression aswell with some of the other 'junk' threads he has started

[bob^]

Good work belz82, another worker with their head screwed on.

[WASXAMAN]

Originally Posted by TE50 056

I got that impression aswell with some of the other 'junk' threads he has started

Well done FF. You have stirred up a hornets nest and exposed a number of irrational thinkers. All with a couple of seemingly innocent questions.

Brilliant!!

[rodderz]

Those still thinking it's all doom and gloom can have a read of this article, which is also in it's own thread in the Orion Knowledge Hub section.

http://www.carpoint.com.au/car-review/2747626.aspx

[belz82]

Originally Posted by bob^

Good work belz82, another worker with their head screwed on.

thanks bob

[Bossxr8]

What a shock. Everythings going along fine and then the GoAuto story came out. I didn't want to believe it at first, but the ball started rolling and the media went nuts over it. The company wouldn't tell us anything, we heard more from the radio than them. They let us hang for a week before they shoved the knife in our backs. They wanted to keep it secret for a few years but whoever spilt the beans ruined that for them.

People have been saying why complain, you have 3 years to get another job, but why leave now when you have a good payout coming. That means i'll hang around till the end to get it, but that then means competing with the hundreds of other employees for jobs, and Geelong isn't exactly abundant with manufacturing jobs, many specialised people will have an extremely tough time of finding work they are trained and experienced in. There will be next to no chance of redeployment, the Focus jobs mean nothing as the company has no intention of moving people beyond a handful of people. A lot of people are absolutly gutted. Many people have devoted decades of their lives for this company to be then thrown on the scraphead for a dodgy V6. V6's are gay. I understand the economics of the whole thing but why take a backward step. The legendary low down torque and effortless performance of the straight 6 will be replaced with a revvy Aurion type engine. What a shame. Ford Australia has lost the plot. No one is safe. Theres more job losses to come.

Hopefully they at least have half a brain left to at least use the torquier 3.7 litre version, with the direct injection version for the XR6 and Ghia.

[MrEL]

After reading some views on this forum I think I might have to sell my Ford and go to something else because they killed the Cleveland off. I might have to go to Holden.
No wait a minute they killed the 5.0 off didnt they?
get over it , save some coin for 3 years to plan a change in life , take the package and run. Never know leaving Ford and having to go out into the big wide world could be the best thing to ever happen.