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NEWS
More job cuts at Toyota?
Toyota Australia CEO says Australian viability will require "modernisation" of work practicesMax Yasuda, Toyota Australia president and CEO, has flagged changes to the current Workplace Agreement between the manufacturer and its workforce, in a parallel to Holden's recent negotiations with its award staff at Elizabeth.
Toyota issued a press release yesterday outlining a proposal to "improve its long-term manufacturing viability" in this country. The press release pre-empted a discreet pow-wow today between Victorian government ministers and the Federal treasurer Joe Hockey, believed to be primarily focused on the future of Australia’s car industry.
One of the big items is the workforce at its Altona manufacturing plant.
Hinting at further job cuts, Yasuda remarked in the press release that the local manufacturer needs the support of its employees "to modernise the work practices at our plant to increase productivity and improve our competitiveness."
Toyota Australia didn’t furnish any details, but said it is seeking a variation of its Workplace Agreement terms and conditions to "provide greater flexibility and increase its global competitiveness." It says the current terms and conditions will be "reviewed and discussed" with the union and its Altona plant employees during the coming weeks.
Among the current Workplace Agreement items are two scheduled employee pay rises for 2014 — which sound a little shaky in the light of the desired "modernisation" measures, even though Yasuda stated in the press release that the company wants to stand by these commitments.
Yasuda said that "During the coming weeks we will work closely with our 2500 manufacturing employees, their families and the union to explain why we need to modernise our work practices."
Toyota employees will vote on the proposed variation of the terms and conditions on Thursday December 5. The outcome of the vote will be announced on Friday December 6.
Yasuda said the company wants to reduce the cost of each locally built vehicle by a massive $3800 by 2018.
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