Unions spell fears for more Ford workers

UNIONS are keeping watch as Ford plays out its latest round of redundancies in the countdown to the car-maker’s exit from Australian manufacturing in 2016.

Up to 200 workers at the company’s Broadmeadows car-making line and Geelong engine casting plant are expected to receive involuntary redundancy notices today after only 50 workers decided to leave the company voluntarily last week.

Ford is shedding workers after last week reducing the line rate at its Broadmeadows plant to 83 cars a day, down from 133 cars a day previously, and at the lower end of output estimates based on slowing Falcon large car and Territory SUV sales.

It announced in February that as well as reducing the line rate, Ford would also shed 300 workers.

Ford told GoAuto last week that only about 50 workers were scheduled to leave the factory after accepting a voluntary redundancy, and refused to elaborate if that meant there would be more cuts made to staff levels.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union vehicles division national secretary Dave Smith said he expected Ford to hand out redundancy notices today, which would also mark the last day of work for those employees nominated.

"They will let people know individually who has a job and who hasn't,” he told ABC Radio this morning.

“The company has put a lot of planning into this to make it as good a process as possible, of course it's not perfect," Mr Smith said.