Axe swings at Toyota's Altona plant

[Shonky.]

It is pretty standard to escort people out, but it does make workers feel rubbish.

I remember working for a company where everyone was laid off. Pretty much everything ended up in peoples car boots within 2 hours

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

I live in WA and work in the Mining Industry.
What will the country do when nobody in Victoria or NSW has a job anymore because everything is imported?

Secede.

[mr smith]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Secede.

From what, the Labour party?

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by mr smith

From what, the Labour party?

Declare the republic finally?

[P6LTD351]

Interesting to see that the guy in the article who was the Health and Safety rep wasn't surprised that he was given the flick. How much trouble did YOU cause matey. I'm a team leader for an agency that shall go unnamed. I have a good relationship with my staff. They know if they do right by be, I'll do right by them. Any company worth their salt would be looking to let go their worst performers (trouble makers). Health and Safety rep; valuable role. Trouble maker who picks on every little thing to get out of work? Not needed. I wonder how many sick days these people who were laid off had over the past couple of years? Just because you may be given an amount of sick days (which are actually meant to be an insurance), doesn't mean you need to use them. But alas, people's behaviour catches up with them in the end.

For those that were genuinely good performers AND reliable; I feel for you in this tough climate.

For those that took the job for granted and thought the union would help you out; live and learn.

[something wrong]

They could have done it like the story I was once told of the Japanese banking firm, they conducted a fire drill and after everyone had their name marked off we're told if your swipe card no longer works you have been made redundant. All of your personal property will be couriered to your home.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Interesting to see that the guy in the article who was the Health and Safety rep wasn't surprised that he was given the flick. How much trouble did YOU cause matey. I'm a team leader for an agency that shall go unnamed. I have a good relationship with my staff. They know if they do right by be, I'll do right by them. Any company worth their salt would be looking to let go their worst performers (trouble makers). Health and Safety rep; valuable role. Trouble maker who picks on every little thing to get out of work? Not needed. I wonder how many sick days these people who were laid off had over the past couple of years? Just because you may be given an amount of sick days (which are actually meant to be an insurance), doesn't mean you need to use them. But alas, people's behaviour catches up with them in the end.

For those that were genuinely good performers AND reliable; I feel for you in this tough climate.

For those that took the job for granted and thought the union would help you out; live and learn.

Union reps, health and safety reps and people on workcover were apparently targeted, basically anyone who the company doesnt like.

Thats why he probably knew what was coming, some companies don't like people who stick up for the workers, as its their job to do that. Supposedly a lot of people with poor english skills were axed too.

[pottery beige]

nothing wrong with burning off deadwood.. its good business.....

[buickman]

[QUOTE=shonkymofo]It is pretty standard to escort people out, but it does make workers feel rubbish.

QUOTE]


I had the marching orders back in 1999 from a very large Australian Company that was rescuctioning to sell off different divisions and it was their policy to use security to escort employees of the premises after getting their belongings.
It's not pleasant but it's a bonus when get some decent coin to go and in my case they did help me with paid courses and taxi vouches to go to them. I got over it and moved on.
I'm sorry that’s life if a company needs to restructure or sell of the division and you’re not part of it.

[gtxb67]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Union reps, health and safety reps and people on workcover were apparently targeted, basically anyone who the company doesnt like.

Thats why he probably knew what was coming, some companies don't like people who stick up for the workers, as its their job to do that. Supposedly a lot of people with poor english skills were axed too.

having no knowledge of how toyota works this is just a general observation

the only unionised place I have worked at, the guys in the blue did the least amount of work . . . why, because they believed they were untouchable. in good times, this may be correct, but in bad times justice can be served. the dead wood goes first

as far as bad english skills go, where is the problem. how does someone get instructions to them - either for work or for safety. many times i have had the pleasure of trying to explain something to a worker who either doesn't understand or pretends not to. if there are 2 workers identical in all aspects except their english skills, it is obvious who will go - unless the company is being racist against the person who is fluent in english

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

having no knowledge of how toyota works this is just a general observation

the only unionised place I have worked at, the guys in the blue did the least amount of work . . . why, because they believed they were untouchable. in good times, this may be correct, but in bad times justice can be served. the dead wood goes first

as far as bad english skills go, where is the problem. how does someone get instructions to them - either for work or for safety. many times i have had the pleasure of trying to explain something to a worker who either doesn't understand or pretends not to. if there are 2 workers identical in all aspects except their english skills, it is obvious who will go - unless the company is being racist against the person who is fluent in english

Bingo.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Union reps, health and safety reps and people on workcover were apparently targeted, basically anyone who the company doesnt like.

Thats why he probably knew what was coming, some companies don't like people who stick up for the workers, as its their job to do that. Supposedly a lot of people with poor english skills were axed too.

Why do you make the assumption that the company does not like them? Just being a union rep or healthy safety rep doesn't automatically make you a hated person. It's those that ABUSE those roles that are the trouble makers.

Unions are to protect workers; not stick it up companies at every chance they get. For those that are like this; sweet justice.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by mr smith

From what, the Labour party?

From the rest of Australia.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Why do you make the assumption that the company does not like them? Just being a union rep or healthy safety rep doesn't automatically make you a hated person. It's those that ABUSE those roles that are the trouble makers.

Unions are to protect workers; not stick it up companies at every chance they get. For those that are like this; sweet justice.

I just reported what happened, why do people always jump on these things and ruin threads with anti-union comments. Can we please leave them out of this thread. Sheesh.

[tweeked]

So who thinks a company with a union rep who was keeping the interests of the worker AND the company in his sights, rousing up lazy workers getting them keep their company competitive and their job safe, would be targetted in a layoff situation? That sort of person would be a huge asset to Toyota, and be the first person safe because Toyota are not stupid.

That is what a union rep should do, but I have never, ever witnessed one interested in this hard way of moving forward. The easy way, More money for less work is all they care about, they are hurting every worker.

[jpd80]

I go with the theory that Toyota chiefs were offended that some workers were milking sickies earlier this year
and the last after the company found ways for everyone to remain at work during the global financial crisis.
This time around, Toyota felt no conflict in cutting numbers but none the less saw the need for security guards.

(Yay Ford, seems like ads everywhere at the moment, the message must be getting through, hope it's not too late)

[atec77]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

350 people at $30,000 a year is $10.5 million saved each year

The internal damage from a/ dumping staff which has a heavy reactive effect
b/ many of those dumped were union and or protective of thier jobs
I have owned two toyotas in 40 years and will never own another , bland and booring

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I just reported what happened, why do people always jump on these things and ruin threads with anti-union comments. Can we please leave them out of this thread. Sheesh.

I don't think the thread has been ruined at all. Unions have their place where the union looks out for the employee AND the company. Too many union reps ENCOURAGE their members to take sickies. Sickies are an insurance and COST the company. Union members should encourage their members to stay healthy so that they are a reliable worker. When people lose their job, it all comes home to roost.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by tweeked

So who thinks a company with a union rep who was keeping the interests of the worker AND the company in his sights, rousing up lazy workers getting them keep their company competitive and their job safe, would be targetted in a layoff situation? That sort of person would be a huge asset to Toyota, and be the first person safe because Toyota are not stupid.

That is what a union rep should do, but I have never, ever witnessed one interested in this hard way of moving forward. The easy way, More money for less work is all they care about, they are hurting every worker.

Post of the thread

[atec77]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

nothing wrong with burning off deadwood.. its good business.....

If that were true middle management would be gone

[Franco Cozzo]

For everyone anti-union, are you enjoying your 38 hour week, 4 weeks paid annual leave, paid public holidays, paid sick leave and OH&S laws?

Do you take labour day off or do you go to work?

Everything there was fought for over the years through union movement, not given out by your employer because he/she loves you.

If you don't like unions, then show your support and go back to working 6 days a week and 12 hours a day.

They've done good for the little guy on the floor.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

For everyone anti-union, are you enjoying your 38 hour week, 4 weeks paid annual leave, paid public holidays, paid sick leave and OH&S laws?

Do you take labour day off or do you go to work?

Everything there was fought for over the years through union movement, not given out by your employer because he/she loves you.

If you don't like unions, then show your support and go back to working 6 days a week and 12 hours a day.

They've done good for the little guy on the floor.

Who has been anti union in this thread? The Toyota worker himself said that he wasn't surprised he got the flick. Why I wonder? Unions DO have their place. To protect the worker, not SCREW the company. Sick days cost companies Millions each year. The sick leave that unions fought for were so that workers would be paid at times where they were that ill or required surgery that they couldn't go to work. Not due to hangovers or 'doona' days or 'mental health' days.

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

For everyone anti-union, are you enjoying your 38 hour week, 4 weeks paid annual leave, paid public holidays, paid sick leave and OH&S laws?

Do you take labour day off or do you go to work?

Everything there was fought for over the years through union movement, not given out by your employer because he/she loves you.

If you don't like unions, then show your support and go back to working 6 days a week and 12 hours a day.

They've done good for the little guy on the floor.

sorry.. no i dont like them.. doubt many of them could even spell the word staunch.....

[gtxb67]

damo, contrary to what the union will tell you, the 8 hour working day was the brain child of henry ford
he had 2 ten hour shifts with a 4 hour break. he then figured with 3 eight hour shifts, production would continue right through the day. henry also brought in the 5 day week (for the same money as 6). no doubt his reasons were to help him, but he brought these in, not unions

no one denies that unions can be good - however they get drunk on their own power and end up doing more damage

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Then we’ll get a chance to catch up, and hopefully reduced demand for new projects will bring labour costs down (so we don’t have to pay $175k for inexperienced T/A’s) which will make those projects remaining more feasible.
Ultimately if demand for Australian commodities slackens, then the AUD will drop, which will be good for Farmers and Manufacturers (if we still have any left.)

This is how I see it. China's obsession with expansion is taking them too fast, and beyond their means. Once they fall in a hole... Australia is going to fall with it, and we will find that there will be a lot of people without jobs. Who will buy our resources in bulk then? This Dutch disease country hopefully will be the object of companies, and nations looking to make stuff.

Hopefully, we will still have factories, and know what tools are when that happens. Govco needs to keep them here, and keep the knowledge, and training here. Because even when times are tough... still gotta build stuff right? Like Teddy Roosevelts Instate Highways.

[cosworthfreak]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Unions have their place where the union looks out for the employee AND the company.

Ok, so I should go to my local Chamber of Commerce to get assistance next time I'm being screwed over by the boss? Unions are there for their members first and foremost, and while a good rep will work with a business owner to keep things smooth, you can't expect them to be on the side of the business when things get rough.

Too many union reps ENCOURAGE their members to take sickies.

In my last 25 years or so of employment I have never come across this, except as a protest tactic used by nurses raising patient safety concerns. I have worked in both blue collar and white collar jobs, and have never been encouraged to take sick leave for the sake of it, so I don't know what basis you have to make that comment.

When people lose their job, it all comes home to roost.

Comments like this are a bit short sighted really. It's like "You dared to stick up for yourself, so you're gone." It's this sort of attitude that fuels a lack of loyalty within employees, and builds an unproductive adversarial working environment. There really is no need for that. The health and safety rep who suspected he'd lose his job may have just because he raised a few legitimate safety issues. I've worked in areas where management would rather not take a few small (and relatively inexpensive) safety measures because they couldn't give a shyte about basic safety outside the confines of their offices.

[cosworthfreak]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

sorry.. no i dont like them.. doubt many of them could even spell the word staunch.....

Funny, I could easily see the same applied to management.

[P6LTD351]

Originally Posted by cosworthfreak

Funny, I could easily see the same applied to management.

So who pays your wages? People forget that small thing that allows us to live our lives the way we want to.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Who has been anti union in this thread? The Toyota worker himself said that he wasn't surprised he got the flick. Why I wonder? Unions DO have their place. To protect the worker, not SCREW the company. Sick days cost companies Millions each year. The sick leave that unions fought for were so that workers would be paid at times where they were that ill or required surgery that they couldn't go to work. Not due to hangovers or 'doona' days or 'mental health' days.

I've only ever had sick days for legit reasons, always backed up with a certificate as well.

People start throwing sickies left right and center when they lose respect for the company they work for.

[cosworthfreak]

Originally Posted by gtxb67

...no one denies that unions can be good - however they get drunk on their own power and end up doing more damage

Not all, but some indeed get drunk on membership fees at least, despite parts of the internal membership trying to pursue positive change. There are business groups +/- the odd mining magnate which could be tarred with the same brush, they just operate on the other side of politics.