Toyota to announce job cuts

[Sprint XR8]

The union representing Toyota workers expects the company to announce today that it will cut more than 100 jobs.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says a drop in demand for locally-made cars and the high Australian dollar are hurting the company, despite ending 2011 as Australia's top car seller.

The company is expected to address workers this afternoon in Melbourne.

Union spokesman Ian Jones says any job cuts at Toyota will lead to further job losses elsewhere.

"For every single job in automotive manufacturing directly, you have a three to four to one flow-on effect," he said.

"So if for example they were talking 100 jobs - and I think they're probably talking about more than that - if they're talking about 100 jobs then there would be 300 - 400 jobs (lost) elsewhere in the community."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-2...b-cuts/3787748

[Road_Warrior]

I've always wondered how Toyota could sustain operations in Australia when the exact same cars are made in low-cost offshore plants.

[imugli]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I've always wondered how Toyota could sustain operations in Australia when the exact same cars are made in low-cost offshore plants.

This may be of interest...

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0706-zxvd.html

2 words. Tax. Writeoff.

[jrfttf]

looks like everyone in the motor manufactor game has their heads in the guillotine these days!!

[Polyal]

Never good news...our dollar is hurting lots of industries. And people want to Mondeo built here?..hmm

[Luke Plaizier]

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...122-1qc77.html

[bobthebilda]

It does raise a very simple question. If the biggest issue with a car industry is that it doesnt have the economies of scale to compete, then wouldnt it be silly to downsize the industry. Gee, if Toyota have 3500 people in auto assmebly, Holden 2700 and Ford 1700 (total 7900), then Toyota getting rid of 400 is wiping out 5% of it in one go.

I guess in years to come, the Labour governments explanation of a viable auto industry will mean = $900 million of government funded equipment sitting idle waiting for a war to break out, $2 billion dollars of "we are not sure where the money went", 6000 auto workers twiddling their thumbs waiting for a war to break out, and 20 people in sales offices taking the 100 car orders that come in each day.

[johnydep]

Fears of job security at Toyota come as Ford was bailed out with a $103 million rescue package a fortnight ago

Toyota want their share of the hand outs.

This is only the beginning, wait till the Carbon Tax kicks in and industry lines up for a share of the bribes.

[Luke Plaizier]

Didn't they get assistance recently for continued operation of their engine plant?

I'm thinking this has more to do with the impact of the union action from late last year.


Lukeyson

[mik]

it`s not just automotive that`s feeling the pinch, my brother is in electronics industry. they already sacked 80 from his company over the last year or two while they prepare to move the company to asia because it`s to hard to make a dollar here, he`s expecting to get the chop any time, the Carbon Tax won`t make it easier for a lot of companies that`s for sure.

[Pepscobra]

The strong Aussie dollar is hurting everything big time!
Australian exporters are suffering because they are getting less from their produce and local tourism is way down as its just too expensive for overseas tourists at the moment.
On top of this, whatever we do manufacture here can be made much cheaper in Asian countries so alot of companies are moving operations offshore.
The warning bells are ringing load and clear people... Australia is in strife. It may not happen for a while, but it will happen. Our economy just can not continue down this path without serious consequences.

[Polyal]

While we are a big country we need to realise were still an island nation. SO yeah a high dollar doesnt not really do us much good.

[Pepscobra]

The strong Aussie Dollar is a double whammy for us... it makes our exports more expensive, but encourages us to buy more from overseas as we are getting more bang for our buck. So many people buying from the US at the moment.
Is iron-ore, coal and natural gas exports our answer for everything?
Dont trust the Government that they know what they are doing, far far from it.

[aualright]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

The strong Aussie Dollar is a double whammy for us... it makes our exports more expensive, but encourages us to buy more from overseas as we are getting more bang for our buck. So many people buying from the US at the moment.
Is iron-ore, coal and natural gas exports our answer for everything?
Dont trust the Government that they know what they are doing, far far from it.

So we go back to a fixed exchange rate? Then you can lay 'all' the blame on the govt of the day. Or perhaps you would prefer a trade deficit as was the case up until recent times? Remember we have a large trade surplus - that is mostly a good thing.

The market mostly determines the exchange rate - high demand for our commodities and the comparative high interest rates have a large bearing on that.

We Aussies have become a pack of whingers - all care, no responsibility.

Next time you are buying something, how about you pay a little more for the Oz made one (where available) instead of the cheaper import? Perhaps 'we' are to blame.

For my part, I drive a Falcon. We also had a Territory but I needed something larger and couldn't get a local product. Unfortunately I had to go an import, but at least I tried my best.

****

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by aualright

So we go back to a fixed exchange rate?

No, you're right, we shouldn't do that. In fact the last resources booms we had were all during fixed-exchange rate times.

I wonder what the exchange rate to China would be if they stopped pegging it artificially to the USD?

I have a Falcon and Territory in my driveway too.


Lukeyson

[Struggo]

Originally Posted by aualright

We Aussies have become a pack of whingers - all care, no responsibility.

Next time you are buying something, how about you pay a little more for the Oz made one (where available) instead of the cheaper import? Perhaps 'we' are to blame.

****

^^^ And there lies the problem.

I try and buy everything Australian when possible.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Struggo

^^^ And there lies the problem.

I try and buy everything Australian when possible.

obviously more australians dont!

[mik]

Originally Posted by Struggo

^^^ And there lies the problem.

I try and buy everything Australian when possible.

it`s not always as simple as that, unfortunately a percentage of the population are on low incomes, my own estimation would be a larger percentage, not every one can afford to buy the local product even if they wanted to,, i might also say that a lot of these low income earners work dam hard for what little they get just like the high income earners.
there is also the cost of living to take into account, each year it goes up as does some wages, i would be betting the percentage of wage rises for low income earners rises to a different rate to high income earners, i have no figure to back this up but that is my belief.

[Polyal]

Bah the market has more clout than the gov anyway. Id rather us exporting more than bringing stuff in thats for sure.

Its all usually cyclic...but with the US and now EU in poo unfortunately we are looking good.

[Pepscobra]

Originally Posted by Polyal

Its all usually cyclic...but with the US and now EU in poo unfortunately we are looking good.

You sure... but for how long?
Dont fall in to the trap of thinking 'she'll be right'.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Pepscobra

You sure... but for how long?
Dont fall in to the trap of thinking 'she'll be right'.

Yeah didnt mean it like that. Its pretty clear this country has resources and nothing else. Although the company Im with at the moment has some pretty aggressive expansion planned for the next 5-10 years in Oz..each mine going for atleast 20 years so who knows.

All of that could fall flat as soon as prices/demand changes too.

[Luke Plaizier]

How long do Resource Booms usually last?


Lukeyson

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by Luke Plaizier

How long do Resource Booms usually last?


Lukeyson

When Max Yasuda comes out today and says people aren't buying the Camry or Aurion because they are flush with the riches of the resources boom, then your question may have some relevance to the thread.

Until then, we are probably just left wondering that if people are still buying cars in near record numbers due to the wealth created by the resources boom, then they may not be buying Camry's and Aurions because they can find better cars. Sometimes the really simple questions have really simple answers.

[Luke Plaizier]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

When Max Yasuda comes out today and says people aren't buying the Camry or Aurion because they are flush with the riches of the resources boom, then your question may have some relevance to the thread.

Until then, we are probably just left wondering that if people are still buying cars in near record numbers due to the wealth created by the resources boom, then they may not be buying Camry's and Aurions because they can find better cars. Sometimes the really simple questions have really simple answers.

When your rants get shorter they may have relevance too.


Lukeyson

[Paxton]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

When Max Yasuda comes out today and says people aren't buying the Camry or Aurion because they are flush with the riches of the resources boom, then your question may have some relevance to the thread.

The mining boom. Really? I thought it was because the Camry was crap. I stand corrected.

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by Paxton

The mining boom. Really? I thought it was because the Camry was crap. I stand corrected.

Boom, Tish for you sir.......

[jpd80]

This might be the icy shiver of reality that the government needs to make it realise
that some serious deals need to be done to secure (save) the Australian car industry.
We're at the cross roads and Toyota is signalling that long term viability is imperiled
because the heads in japan won't even discuss a future replacement for Camry.

This could be a case of last man standing with export projects undermining local production, could
it be that the very thing the government is pushing local manufacturers to do is their very undoing?

Maybe Ford, even with low sales numbers and work force right sized to that production
is best suited to survive in the next four years...that after all is key before we
even discuss plans post 2016..... you have to survive for the next four years first.

[Cheese3]

Well I am currently employed full time in the motor industry the one that starts with F and has plants in Geelong :-P anyway, the media makes it sound so much worst, dont get me wrong, falcon and commadore look very likely to go in the future. Everyone is in up roar about how Australia will survive without the motor industry. I think back when ansett collapsed everyone was kick and screaming, now days no one cares or even thinks about ansett. One door close another will open.

[Luke Plaizier]

Confirmed. 350 jobs to go.

http://theage.drive.com.au/toyota-cu...123-1qdjm.html

Poo.


Lukeyson

[BHDOGS]

i would keep ya chin up fellors the banking industry is making tons of money and there still sacking workers does matter if ur making money or losing it these days ur out