News Release

UNEMPLOYED INTO UNCERTAINTY

5 March 2007

Some 600 Holdens workers face an uncertain future as a result of the federal government's utter incompetence in relation to manufacturing and industrial relations.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles says John Howard has kicked SA in the guts.

"Not only has Coalition policy led to their unemployment, but the new IR laws have created a bleak environment in which to seek another job", Ms Giles says.

"South Australia is suffering because of 10 years of disastrous policy by the federal government.  Its headlong rush to reduce trade tariffs, with no proper consideration of the effect in small states like ours means we are being hardest hit", Ms Giles says.

"The federal government's blind faith in the 'market' is hurting South Australian workers and their families."

"Many of these workers are in the marginal federal seats of Wakefield and Makin.  Their one consolation is they will be able to send a strong message to the government by voting it out at the upcoming election.  That's small consolation however for losing their jobs."

"These workers are being made redundant into an environment of uncertainty.  The new IR laws have stripped away penalty rates, overtime and other conditions, and where job security is a thing of the past.  That has been the experience of the Mitsubishi workers and now Holdens workers face the same sickening future."

"Families trying to keep pace with the rising cost of living are struggling, especially in marginal seats like Makin and Wakefield."

"This galvanises our resolve to intensify our campaigning in SA marginal seats in a bid to get a government elected that actually has a proper manufacturing plan and won't sacrifice SA workers to the open market", Ms Giles says.