Abbott does nothing as jobs burn

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union relates the jobs crisis within the manufacturing industry, and demand that Abbott FFS get together some kind of crisis plan for the industry. I mean seriously, all we're getting off this buffoon is blaming workers for it all and some weak rhetoric about future jobs in other industries. Um, like what? Renewable energy was very promising for jobs until Abbott took his wrecking ball to it all.

Meanwhile jobs burn as Abbott does nothing. Unemployment at 6% is already it's highest in years (last time it was this high was when Abbott was employment minister under Howard BTW) and it's only getting worse. We're going to be looking at a large increase in that number the way things are going.

So what's the plan Abbott? Distract people by demonising asylum seekers?

At Alcoa in Victoria and NSW, more than 130 AMWU maintenance members are among nearly 1000 workers set to lose their jobs when smelter ceases in August and the rolling mills in both states are wound down by December. 

But hundreds of members’ jobs at smaller engineering firms supporting Alcoa’s operations at Point Henry in Geelong are also in peril, with the AMWU meeting a group of concerned employers within 36 hours of the announcement. 

The regional city is in deep trouble pending job losses and the flow-on impact from Ford, Qantas at Avalon Airport, Blue Circle Cement and concerns for the Shell refinery. 

In WA and Queensland more than 100 AMWU members are among the 1700 out of work and left without pay due to the collapse of the debt-ridden Forge Group. 

Around 30 AMWU members with expertise in precision graphics are among 800 Sensis workers whose jobs will be offshored, following last year’s 700 job losses. That’s despite the firm’s $402 million profit to last December. 

AMWU National Secretary Paul Bastian said union officials were working intensely to make sure all members were paid their full redundancy and severance entitlements under union agreements. 

“It’s not good enough for Prime Minister Abbott to turn up and meet State Premiers after shock job loss announcements,” said Mr Bastian. 

“The industry is crying out for a structured, detailed manufacturing plan for the future - not empty rhetoric about possible jobs in new technology firms. 

“Are we to sit back and just watch good jobs end, industries shut down and communities decimated?” Mr Bastian asked. 

“For manufacturing to expand into the future, the Australian Government must make it a top priority but we are yet to see any detailed industry policy.” more