October 23, 2009

Joint Media Release

Decent redundancy some comfort for laid-off Firestone workers

Laid-off workers at Bridgestone Firestone can take some comfort in the fact they have a generous union-negotiated redundancy package say the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union and the Bridgestone Rubberworkers Union.

Workers were told at 4pm today that the company would be closing this Christmas as part of an Australasian restructuring.

EPMU assistant national secretary Ged O’Connell says the announcement has been a blow to workers.

“We’re not happy with the way this has been done just hours before Labour weekend started but our members can take comfort in the fact they have a significant redundancy agreement and that they will not be left without a financial backstop.

“We will be consulting with the company and talking to the Australian unions affected by the Adelaide closure to make sure the redundancy process is done properly.”

Bridgestone Rubberworkers secretary Kerry Pearce says the company has stated it will pay full entitlements.

“We’ve got a lot of members who have worked here a very long time but they’ll be left with some financial security as the company has confirmed will pay the redundancies in full.

“There’s a lot of history on this site with some members having worked here forty-five years and some being the second and third generation of their families to have worked here so it is a very sad day for all of us.”

Workers at Bridgestone Firestone have a redundancy agreement of seven weeks pay for the first year of employment and two for every year after that, uncapped.

ENDS

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