2600 car jobs lost, but worse to come

THOUSANDS of supply chain jobs are under threat as car manufacturing comes to a grinding halt in Victoria.

Toyota’s last Camry will today roll off the production line with the company’s Altona plant to close by midday.

The closure will slash 2600 jobs, although there are hopes that about 40 per cent will secure new jobs after a long transition period.

But the Australian Workers’ Union has warned more than 3000 supply chain jobs could also be affected by the long-mooted closure.

Toyota employee of 30 years, Lika Newman, said there was “definite sadness” among factory workers.

“People like coming to work here and everyone was nice to each other,” she said. “I will miss that a lot, along with being able to earn a good wage.”

Sahid Abdolwahid, 75, said he was looking forward to retirement after 40 years in Toyota’s paint shop.

“I’m going to spend it with my family. I’m ready to be at home,” he said.

Industry insiders said the future of almost half the factory workforce remained up in the air, with up to 40 per cent of workers believed to have secured a new job, and 15 per cent retiring.

Toyota said in a statement that some workers had honed skills to start their own small businesses in “nutrition, landscaping, brewing and photography”.

“Other programs have focused on language, literacy, numeracy and computer skills,” it said.

AWU national vehicle division secretary Dave Smith said the closure of the Altona plant, as well as impending closure of Holden’s Elizabeth factory in South Australia, was a “tough blow” for Australian manufacturing. “These jobs have provided a stable, secure income upon which these workers, their families and communities have built their lives, particularly for generations of migrants,” he said.