Holden workers meet to thrash out options
Hundreds of Holden workers at Elizabeth have attended crucial union meetings to thrash out their future.
More than 500 of the plant’s workers gathered on the front lawns at two meetings today where they were briefed by union officials.
The Federation of Vehicle Industry Unions said Holden wouldn’t allow a meeting inside on company time, unless the union told them what would be said.
Holden said it supports the meetings, but couldn’t afford the cost of stopping production, so workers had to gather before or after their shifts.
They are upset they are being asked to consider pay cuts, but managers are not.
“We think it is unfair when they expect workers to bear all the burden and they’re not prepared to do something themselves,” one worker said.
The union said almost 550 workers are considering redundancies, with the company looking for about 400 volunteers.
The parties all seem to agree on one thing – to appoint an independent expert to review the company’s operations.
Unions and workers have until August 8 to decide if they will agree to vary any working conditions, including pay.
