Up to 20 jobs are believed to be at risk at a Melton plastics manufacturer as the effects of Toyota Australia’s Altona plant closure are felt further west.
MHG Plastic Industries, which manufactures automotive body mouldings, announced last week that job losses were on the cards for workers across the company.
Toyota Australia stopped making cars at its Altona plant last week, signalling the end of auto manufacturing in Victoria.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union divisional secretary Dave Smith said more than 2600 direct employees and at least 3000 supply-chain workers would lose their jobs.
The factory closure signals the end of $1billion in annual exports for cars and parts.
Union representative Leon White told Star Weekly the closure of one of MHG Plastic Industries’ largest clients could mean a change of direction for the company.
Mr White said the feeling among its members was “doom and gloom”.
“They’ve [MHG Plastic] announced 20 redundancies and the workers won’t know who’s going until next month,” Mr White said.
“When that happens, those who are made redundant will be on site for another week working with careers advisors and budget specialists before they leave.”
He said management has also called for voluntary redundancies.
Star Weekly contacted MHG Plastics for comment but they had not replied by deadline.
At Laverton North, Toyota car-seat manufacturer Toyota Boshoku is understood to have started shedding close to 400 workers.
Components importer and manufacturer Toyota Tsusho confirmed some of its western suburbs companies would be downsized while others would close.
The last Toyota Camry went down the Altona production line about noon last Tuesday.
Melton South’s Matthew Kinson, an employee for nearly 19 years, said he had a feeling of pride whenever a Toyota drove by.
“Something that I always reflect back on when a Camry passes me is, ‘I could have made that car’,” he said.
“It’s a bloody good car to drive – made in Australia.”
Toyota Australia president Dave Buttner said 1300 workers Australia-wide would be retained and the Altona site would be developed into a centre of excellence.
with Goya Dmytryshchak
