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Wednesday May 23, 2012

What we're talking about

Alcoa plant's future up in the air

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 8 February, 2012 - 12:02 PM
alcoa

UPDATE: The state goverment is set to work with Alcoa to try to save jobs at its Point Henry Plant.

The Premier and several ministers met with Alcoa management this morning to discuss the future of the plant.

The company has announced a review into the profitability of the plant, saying it's under threat from athe strong Aussie dollar, the high global aluminium prices and the incoming carbon tax.

YESTERDAY: The Australian Workers Union says it's extremely concerned hundreds of jobs will go if Alcoa goes ahead and shuts its aluminium smelter.

The company says it's examining the plant's viability because higher metal prices, input costs and exchange rates have made it unprofitable.

Around 600 people work in the Point Henry plant, many of them living in Geelong. 

The Union's State Secretary says it'll do what it can to try to save jobs.

Blog comments Your Say

  • The unions, have a lot to answer for too,the days of standing over companies for high wages are gone,Garry can't blame work choices for this one>..

    Steve Friday 10 February, 2012 - 2:35 PM

  • Well isn't this just dandy. Another largish company, obviously seeing the hand outs given by government to other multinationals as a key to their existance, puts to the media and cries poor. The manaegment at Alcoa would have known about this situation long before now and should have shed jobs along the way just like any other manufacturer/business would do when times are tough. I'm sick of the Government, both Federal and State, continually putting our tax money into poorly managed companies. Why should we prop up a company that cannot make a profit? This is why businesses are businesses - not to primarily employ people - it's about making money. We don't hear anything about the incomes of these workers nor whether there is too much fat in the workforce to start with. The union has no doubt forced the wages to unsustainable levels. Shed the jobs that can be shared by others and get on with it or bail out- simple!.Perhaps the Australian taxpayers should be awarded shares in these companies that are continually propped up by our governments. Wouldn't that be a nice nest egg for retirement if we all had a portfolio of shares in companies that we have worked hard to support. After all it is our money they are investing!!

    Gonetroppo59 Friday 10 February, 2012 - 2:15 PM

  • Get off the grass Mark.You are not correct with your guess on a standard operators wage.

    Portland Aluminium worker Thursday 9 February, 2012 - 10:33 PM

  • It's all about greed people. I have a brother whom works at Alcoa smelter in Portland, he's been there for 15+ years now, works out on the floor, not a manager, his salary with benefits is now over $120,000. This is all due to unions greed. He's not one to stand up and fight for more more and more, as he knows eventually it'll bite back, and the time has now come. The Aussie $ has risen and now makes Australian materials too expensive on the market. The government should make no apology for any of this, it's all down to unions wanting more more more. I'm a manufacturing company owner, moved out of Australia in 2009 due to rising costs, glad I did.

    Mark Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 5:44 PM

  • 11,000 jobs predicted to be gone in Vic this year, more companies leaving our shores for cheaper labor, who knew that London and New York are cheaper places to work and live in than Auss.

    janet p Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 2:46 PM

  • Paul Howes time to drop support of the carbon tax

    Mark Wednesday 8 February, 2012 - 2:43 PM

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