By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
ABOUT 150 workers have returned to work at Dandenong South auto-parts manufacturer DAIR Industries at 7am this morning, but their futures at the plant remain clouded.
On Thursday, DAIR workers were stood down indefinitely. Three days later, administrators took over the factory and its parent company Autodom — which reported a $4 million loss before income tax in the 2011-12 financial year.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union state secretary Leigh Diehm said car-makers Ford and Holden purchased some of Autodom’s debts to allow three factories in South Australia and Victoria, including the Dandenong South plant, to re-open ‘‘for the foreseeable future’’.
The last-minute bailout averted what was otherwise tipped to be a shutdown of the local car industry.
‘‘Our members have more security than they did yesterday,’’ Mr Diehm said.
‘‘There’s no guarantees. They’re quite concerned about the situation and what the future holds.
‘‘[If the factories close], there is not enough money there to pay for members’ entitlements. We would expect the federal government through its GEERS [General Employee Entitlements and Redundancy Scheme] to step in.’’
The AMWU has requested a meeting with the receivers, Mack Advisory, next Monday.
‘‘The receivers don’t know how deficient the finances are as yet. We’ve given them a week to work through that process,’’ Mr Diehm said.
