General Motors made a tough call when it decided to pull the plug on Australian manufacturing. Elizabeth, located in Northern Adelaide, Australia, has been home to Holden production for decades.
While the GM has no plans to reverse its decision, despite an incredibly weak Australian dollar, Premier Jay Weatherill has coaxed a deal out of the automaker. A local ABC affiliate in Australia reports Weatherill spent time in Detroit, Michigan to meet with GM, where the automaker agreed to make a “financial contribution” of sorts to the area.
“We do want them to make a contribution to the local community,” Weatherill said.
“We think that the Elizabeth community have been great supporters of this car plant over the years and they’re doing it tough.”
The Elizabeth factory will shut its doors in late 2017, leaving more than 1,000 employees out of work. South Australia, where Northern Adelaide is situated, currently retains the highest unemployment rate in the nation, hovering around 7.2-percent.
GM and Holden have opened up training programs and have provided support for workers to find new opportunities after the factory’s closure.
Comments
What a PR coup it would be if the man who rubber stamped the plant closure, came in person, and handed over a cheque for…. Oh I don’t know…say…. 30 mill to help the community and thank them for their support over the years. Come on Stefan, put your money where your mouth is!
Corporate America has absolutely no social conscience. Shareholder appeasement is the number 1 and only concern. Worker, community, and host city/state/country interests are an afterthought and unwelcome distraction.
Only workers are to be dedicated to Company, not Company dedicated to workers. Makes me sick to my stomach when I read crap like this. Like Carrier moving to Mexico.