Car supplier Bosch to cut up to 170 jobs at Vic plant

LEADING automotive supplier Robert Bosch today revealed it would make 12 per cent of its Australian workforce redundant, equating to between 160 and 170 jobs.

Robert Bosch spokesman Gavin Smith told news agency AAP the reductions would be made at its plant in Clayton, Victoria, affecting workers in the fuel components, chassis systems and automotive electronics divisions.

“The major issues we are having are absolutely related to the reduction in vehicle sales globally,” Mr Smith said.

“What we are noticing is that whilst vehicle sales are perhaps down by 15 per cent, components are down by closer to 35 to 40 per cent.” Mr Smith added that the company had made a series of proposals to employees via their union representatives.



LEFT: Emissions testing at Robert Bosch Australia.

“Each time we met with the unions the proposal seemed to be less interesting than the one before,” he said.

“We finally got to the point where the unions themselves kept increasing the requirements.”