Union Man Strives For The Best Deal
The Age
Saturday February 16, 1991
You could not dream up a worse nightmare for a hard-left union official. Ask Ian Jones. As the state secretary of the Vehicle Builders' Employees Federation, he has spent most of his time recently negotiating redundancy packages and downtime in the industry.
In a few months, 4000 jobs have gone. Ford, Nissan, Toyota. All through voluntary redundancy, but 4000 jobs _ 4000 members _ none the less. His working day has lengthened. The nightmare is not over yet.
Mr Jones, 38, whose hard-left reform ticket won the union election two years ago, believes he has a realistic view. It's easy, he says, for unions to adopt an ideological stand on redundancies. No one wants them. But in the cold light of day, you have to be practical.
``What we have to do first is see if we can minimise it (the job losses) and make sure that people are fairly treated and that people aren't victimised," he says. ``And, at the end of the day, if redundancies are inevitable, that the people who are going to take the package are looked after." Mr Jones says groups such as the Trotskyites come to the fore during difficult economic times. ``I have got reform groups coming out my ears, but nobody with a solution except to nationalise the vehicle industry or expel the Hawke-Keating Right-wing faction from the Labor Party. That's the grand plan." Mr Jones says the union members understand recession. ``Vehicle workers are smart enough to recognise that if you do the best you can and have a go, then you need to be supported. If I am satisfied we have got the best we can get, I don't have a problem going out and putting it to the members. In my own mind I have to sleep at night." Mr Jones says the restructuring of the vehicle industry is under consideration. The Federal Government plans to announce new car policies in its economic statement on 12 March.
Mr Jones was part of the Victorian delegation to Canberra on Thursday. He spoke to the Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, the Treasurer, Mr Keating, and the Minister for Industry, Senator Button, about the industry's future. ``Everybody expressed a hell of a lot of optimism," he says.
The new car policies, which are certain to include tariff cuts, are crucial. Mr Jones is confident they will strengthen the export facilitation scheme, which he says is vital to the industry's long-term viability.
The union does not support the Industry Commission's proposals to cut car tariffs to 15per cent by 2000. It prefers a reduction to 25per cent. At worst, it says, there should be another review in 1996.
Mr Jones believes the car manufacturers will continue to operate in Australia. Their operations may be leaner, but he envisages a reasonably bright future. In the meantime, the union will try to ensure there is a safety net for those who have lost out in the shake-out.
© 1991 The Age