FORD Australia shutdown Announcement

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

We keep hearing this line get trotted out. But countries like Germany seem to do quite nicely.

German industry is doing so well because of the working conditions there that would be abhorrent to "hard working" Aussies like low wages, instant dismissal if you're not up to par, a couple of weeks hols a year and management teams that must perform or they're out. Min wages I believe is about $5 an hour. And yes the very low Euro. Greece didn't survive because they were the exact opposite and we are going the same way.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

In WW2 Ford Australia built jeeps for the US Army and both Ford and Holden turned their manufacturing abilities towards the war effort building weapons and weapons carriers, aircraft components, etc. Hope we don't need that sort of stuff in the future. With all the stuff coming out of Asia the only thing aussies will be noted for making in the future will be the sound of their bare feet shuffling in the dole queues.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

German industry is doing so well because of the working conditions there that would be abhorrent to "hard working" Aussies like low wages, instant dismissal if you're not up to par, a couple of weeks hols a year and management teams that must perform or they're out. Min wages I believe is about $5 an hour. And yes the very low Euro. Greece didn't survive because they were the exact opposite and we are going the same way.

you got any facts to back this up.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

My brother worked in the car industry, he was in charge of the engineering account for components for Ford , Holden and Toyota.
Big problem is that is one of the few high tech industries we got, many engineers designers trades people work in the components and supply area. Were do people with good expertise and technical knowledge work?
Straight-out of uni with an engineering degree to---- sell furniture at Harvey Norman?

Logistics, aero, composites, paint, sound deadening equipment, alloys, ceramics etc etc. are all part of this. Ford design, supply the engine and assemble the car. The rest is a huge part of our manufacturing, our R&D our brains.
Ford international, started the downward trend when they started importing the Focus and Mondeo. It doesn`t help that the Falcon and Commodore for that matter have become to big and aren`t a mainstream car anymore. But at least GMH has included Holden as a valuable team member. Ford Au hasn`t helped by piss poor warranty, both Nissan and Ford would be up there with the worst to have to deal with for warranty issues.

Australia has one of the least subsidised automotive industries in the world.

Keep in mind nearly everything is subsidised, The Miners still don`t buy the full amount for fuel, neg gearing is subsidising, bank fees ( total rip off ) , childcare , private schools, etc etc.

Basically every big business around the world, every industry gets some sort of support from governments.



this is worth a read.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257B750019A168

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

you got any facts to back this up.

Stop listening to FM music stations and tune into ABC, BBC, read online global news reports. It's all there to absorb. Aussies, like Americans tend to be insular from the rest of the world. It's amazing how little my friends, rellos, workmates all are ignorant of European affairs. My daughter who's a journalist by trade went to London and worked for the guardian for three years and has now lived id Paris for 4. She read the world news on English language radio on Radio France Internationale and is now in charge of the news desk. I think she got her interest in world affairs from me. Not saying I'm an expert or anything but I read, listen and learn.

Cheers Jim

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

this is worth a read.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257B750019A168

There you go Max. Now I've learned something new.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

just curious as you were pretty knowledgeable about Germany`s workers, I lived there for 15 years, got numerous relatives there.

I don`t disagree with your view that there is a bit of a narrow view and that there is another world out there beyond Australia and America, its not anywhere as bad as it used to be and please more facts and less generalisations.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

just curious as you were pretty knowledgeable about Germany`s workers, I lived there for 15 years, got numerous relatives there.

I don`t disagree with your view that there is a bit of a narrow view and that there is another world out there beyond Australia and America, its not anywhere as bad as it used to be and please more facts and less generalisations.

Are you saying I'm wrong about the minimum wages and the other conditions? Cos that is what I gather from the news out of Europe and why they can compete better with China. Like everyone else on PP I can only generalise. As I'm not a reporter and this is not a news agency I can't go crediting my information to so and so. Interesting that you lived and obviously worked in Germany. Have you found their work ethic to be different than here? I'm just saying that is where we need to lift our game.

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

work ethics is different in Germany, too anal. Not actually better, in real terms for the worker0. Management structure is different and here is the key.

I can give you and example of precision grinding machines that came from here and were set up over in an Opel plant. This is based on true story, but may not apply to all areas.

If you have a machine that makes widgets and it has three processes, you have three operators, with their own skillset and paygrades. If the machine broke, its not their job to repair it, but call the supervisor who calls Mr Sir up himself Engineer who fixes it or gets it fixed. They will all be punctual, do their bit only and every 6month discuss a payrise by explaining how well they know their job. Generally they get it, but everyone accepted that pay rises will be hard to come by during the GFC and not getting one was the done thing. The boss didn`t just pull that line to make more profit., naturally when times are good the payrises would be back and more.
The done thing is also that you will be well trained and looked after by your employer, because if you don`t, you can take all your accumulated expertise and knowledge somewhere else. That is understand and respected. Unions and employers together can both see the big long term picture. You are better respected and recognized as an industry expert.

Keep in mind if you said to a German in Germany , that rabbits are a plague and they should all go out and catch one for the national good and they will get a reward of a 1$ until the rabbits are gone. In short time Germany would have eradicated the rabbit. If you started that system in Australia, we would all be breeding rabbits to collect more reward money. Different mindset, different mentality.



Here a fitter/machinist is not recognized as a 20 year veteran and expert in his field, but a number that can be replaced by another. Too much of the American and UK system, where you are a number and the boss is a bullshit artist, essentially a union is to keep the bastards honest is required as the company doesn`t not have a long term sustainable view in mind. Short term greed is the main driving factor.
ie if you were to say to the boss, its ok its a gfc don`t give me a pyrise, they would take the money, but wouldn`t give it back when the times are good.

Going back to making widgets, they three workers in Australia wouldn`t be anal about a starting time, would share information, and if the machine broke down try and fix it or keep it going or call the supervisor and then the engineer who is called Fred and they would all figure it out together. In the end the Australians make as many widgets and as good a quality as anyone else, in fact they can make more. I would rather work and live here.

But often company structure is not set up for long term picture and managers only hang around for a year or three. The bonuses are all geared for short term. Management then try and reduce workers or not provide a payrise or take other shortcuts without proper consultation. Quantity and Quality of widgets still unaffected as people have pride in their job, but problem arises when machine breaks down. Engineer called in but Fred has gone to greener pastures and the green new one doesn`t know the machine well enough to fix it. The three workers are taking their time helping fix the problem, because they didn`t get a payrise or they weren`t looked after and treated like a number.
Unions, workers and company management with short term goals, don`t work well, even less the product is not in demand.
Like I said different system.

[GXL05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close GXL05]

manufacturing in Australia is finished and all political parties are at fault.
I have no problem governments subsidising...what I do not like is when they are
in trouble they get the handouts (our money) they put off workers and yet the directors
and ceos continue to get the million dollar salaries again our money....they should be the first
people to get a big paycut.....and what about the politicians who continue to get paid super
for the rest of their lives even though after their time in parliament have joined the corporate world....
and yet the person on the street who has worked hard to pay off his house and a unit for his retirement
is told by the government that there is no pension and you can live with the $400 rent from the unit
which is also taxed.. and we call this democracy and caring about Australia and Australians...
I can go on for ever .........the problem with today's world of politics there are not enough lobby groups....look at
all our politicians, they cannot even talk properly..
like an old man told me media and governments are against society.....like this month the budget
was handed out and the biggest news in Australia (newspapers radio television) was Angelina removing her breasts
afl players on drugs people killing people.....definitely something wrong there.....

[maxjj Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maxjj]

sorry mate, they are all subsidised. BMW is privately owned Every car manufacturer in the world is subsidised. Just like any big business in this country is subsidised in some form. . ie BMW got huge help from the gov in South Africa to build a plant there.

Audi is part of the VAG group, which includes VW , Porsche, Bugatti, Dugatti, Lamborghini, MAN , Scania, etc.

We are subsidising BHP and RIO by giving them fuel discounts on Diesel.



Don`t just blame the goverments, I firmly believe the electorate is stupid. We are the ones voting for them. We all get the gov we deserve, we are to blame. Its not like we lobbied the gov to spend the surplus on infrastructure, we all accepted the handouts.

[GXL05 Member Find all posts View Profile Close GXL05]

yes I agree....as my father told me in the end it is the
people's fault.....

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Keep in mind if you said to a German in Germany , that rabbits are a plague and they should all go out and catch one for the national good and they will get a reward of a 1$ until the rabbits are gone. In short time Germany would have eradicated the rabbit. If you started that system in Australia, we would all be breeding rabbits to collect more reward money. Different mindset, different mentality.

Interesting reading there max. We did have that reward system here with the rabbits, dingos and foxes. Don't recall reading anything about breeding farms here. In the end we all get the government and the media we deserve. Angelina's charms, or lack of, garners more interest than Wayne's burgeoning budget.

[kav Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close kav]

I didn't get the govt I deserve I got some red headed lying c*#€ that nobody actually voted for . But that's another argument .

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

I wonder whether the XB coupe in the shed will gain in value now that, as of 2016, there will never be an Aussie Ford like it ever again.