Vic: Kenworth Trucks to cut 80 manufacturing workers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2008
Vic: Kenworth Trucks to cut 80 manufacturing workers

MELBOURNE, Aug 26 AAP - Kenworth Trucks has announced it will cut 80 manufacturing
staff from its Melbourne factory in a further blow to Australia's automotive industry.

The announcement comes just days after Ford Australia said it would cut up to 350 jobs,
or 15 per cent of its Australian manufacturing workforce, by November because of slow
large-car sales.

The cuts at Kenworth Trucks will be made from September 5, management told the 1,100
staff at its Bayswater factory in Melbourne's outer east, News Limited newspapers report
today.

Kenworth spokesman Robert Brierley blamed the slowing economy, high fuel prices and
interest rate hikes for the job losses.

Australian Manufacturing Workers Union shop steward at Kenworth Les Takacs said the
job losses would cut production from 23 trucks a day to eight.

The company had cut 380 contractors since last year, he said.

AAP jrd/rs

KEYWORD: KENWORTH

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