by: Stephen Drill and Phillip Hudson From: Herald Sun February 28, 2012 12:00AM
Prime Julia Gillard is being urged to save jobs in the manufacturing industry. News Limited
WORKERS facing the axe are pleading for Prime Minister Julia Gillard to put the same passion into saving their jobs as she did into saving her own.
Manufacturing workers who fear for their future have called on Ms Gillard to act immediately, after she crushed Kevin Rudd to stay as Labor's leader.
At Toyota's plant in Altona - Ms Gillard's home suburb - 350 workers will lose their jobs on April 16. "When Julia knew Kevin Rudd was after her job she worked hard to save her own skin," said Michael Spiteri.
"She's screwing us workers, especially low-income families - stop making big deals overseas, look at all the jobs going overseas."
Paul Howes, Australian Workers Union national secretary, said a shift in attention towards jobs, instead of on Labor's internal politics, was absolutely vital.
At Toyota's plant in Altona - Ms Gillard's home suburb - 350 workers will lose their jobs on April 16. "When Julia knew Kevin Rudd was after her job she worked hard to save her own skin," said Michael Spiteri.
"She's screwing us workers, especially low-income families - stop making big deals overseas, look at all the jobs going overseas."
Paul Howes, Australian Workers Union national secretary, said a shift in attention towards jobs, instead of on Labor's internal politics, was absolutely vital.
"The reality is with the dollar as high as it is we are going to continue to see substantial job losses out of the manufacturing industry," he said.
"We are concerned about what is being done to address these major changes taking place."
Ms Gillard last night admitted voters had had a gutful of Labor's ugly leadership drama and pledged to fight for the jobs of all Australians.
"The Australian people rightly expect government to focus on you, for you to be at the centre of everything that government does," she said.
"I feel impatient ... to get on with the job of building this country's future.
"Impatient with getting on with the work that we need to do so that in the future Australians have the benefit of jobs."
After being re-elected PM in a crushing 71-31 win over Kevin Rudd, Ms Gillard asked voters to "trust me".
She will today switch the focus to her $3 billion plan to boost skills, which she says can deliver $300,000 more in life-time earnings.
She will soon announce a multi-million dollar plan to rescue jobs at Holden and supply chain jobs across the nation and says running a strong economy will help companies doing it tough because of the high dollar.
AMWU vehicle division federal secretary Ian Jones said the automotive industry was braced for more job losses. "It requires a government that understands our industry and has compassion for the people within it," he said.
- with Shannon Deery
"We are concerned about what is being done to address these major changes taking place."
Ms Gillard last night admitted voters had had a gutful of Labor's ugly leadership drama and pledged to fight for the jobs of all Australians.
"The Australian people rightly expect government to focus on you, for you to be at the centre of everything that government does," she said.
"I feel impatient ... to get on with the job of building this country's future.
"Impatient with getting on with the work that we need to do so that in the future Australians have the benefit of jobs."
After being re-elected PM in a crushing 71-31 win over Kevin Rudd, Ms Gillard asked voters to "trust me".
She will today switch the focus to her $3 billion plan to boost skills, which she says can deliver $300,000 more in life-time earnings.
She will soon announce a multi-million dollar plan to rescue jobs at Holden and supply chain jobs across the nation and says running a strong economy will help companies doing it tough because of the high dollar.
AMWU vehicle division federal secretary Ian Jones said the automotive industry was braced for more job losses. "It requires a government that understands our industry and has compassion for the people within it," he said.
- with Shannon Deery
Source: Heraldsun
