Boeing shows lack of respect for Western Sydney workers

04 March 2010

Boeing's workforce in Western Sydney has been treated with little or no respect with the company announcing it is shutting its aerospace engineering site without any consultation with the workers or their unions.

AWU NSW Secretary, Russ Collison, said our union's members were in total shock at the announcement today.

Workers asked to accept decision 'cold turkey' - no warning

" The 400 plus workers affected are expected to accept this result cold turkey - no warning of the impending shutdown at all," Russ Collison said.

" It is a terrible blow to the workers and their families, they should have been treated with a little bit more respect."

Shutdown will hurt state's manufacturing sector - hit our skills base

The shutdown decision would be felt not just by the Boeing workers but across the NSW economy.

" This will hurt our state's manufacturing base - the loss of these skilled workers, together with thousands of downstream jobs will be a blow to NSW's proud manufacturing tradition.

The company manufactures aerospace components for the Boeing fleet, including the Boeing 737, Airbus, C130 Elevator, A330, A340 and A380 and the 777 Runner.

Reality is that not all Sydney jobs will transfer to Melbourne - some jobs will go offshore

" While we are yet to see any real detail, we have been told that the company will move the entire Milperra site to Fisherman's Bend in Victoria.

" The reality will be that not all 400 jobs lost from Sydney will turn up in Melbourne. This is an opportunity for the company to quietly move some jobs off-shore," Mr Collison said.

The NSW AWU leader said his union, along with the AMWU, who together form the Manufacturing Alliance, will lobby Federal and State governments about improving investment in this state for the aerospace industry.