
Issue No 103		20 July 2001

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Coles Myer Abandons Regional Jobs

70 jobs gone - more to follow as Coles Myer moves against Geelong Regional Jobs. "Corporate Australia and State Government abandon Regional Community" says union.

The Australian Services Union (ASU) today claimed that the reorganisation of the troubled Coles Myer Group will cost 70 positions in the next month at the Geelong Head Office of Target Stores. It says up to 800 other jobs are still at risk - and there have been no moves by either the State Government or Coles Myer to save these jobs in Geelong.

The ASU Branch President Martin Foley said today:

"Coles Myer is centralising all its business units (Target, Myer Stores, K Mart) Head Office buying and support functions to Melbourne. In doing so Coles Myer is abandoning regional communities. With Target Stores Head Office in Geelong being the only non- Melbourne Head Office in the Group this move spells trouble for the Geelong community and economy. And to make matters worse the State Government - elected on the back of regional communities - has gone missing on the issue."

Mr Foley's comments come after:

� The first meeting of the Geelong Community leaders roundtable held today to call upon both the Coles Myer Limited Group and the State Government maintaining all 850 jobs in Geelong.

� The ASU reached its goal of a petition to the state government from the Geelong community of over 10,000 signatures to stand up for the Geelong Head Office jobs.

� Coles Myer extended its trial of centralising to go beyond the 20 jobs already affected in the Footwear area to also include a further 50 jobs in the Bedding, Bath and Furnishings areas. These jobs are all moving from the different business units in Coles Myer Limited to a centralised Melbourne CBD location.

Mr Foley said:

"It is now time for the State Government and Coles Myer Limited to demonstrate its commitment to regional communities by committing to keep these high value service sector jobs in Geelong. How many more jobs will have to be lost before this matter becomes a concern to the State Government and to Australia's largest retailer? It's time for Mr Bracks to put up or shut up for the Geelong community."

"The workers at Target Head Office in Geelong are fighting to keep their jobs in their community. They have collected over 10,000 signatures in support of their campaign. The least they are demanding is that the State Government and the Board of Coles Myer Limited demonstrate their commitment to regional communities in actions by keeping the Target site in Geelong. We are demanding that if any centralisation of work is to be done then it should be done so as to keep jobs in Geelong, not lose them down the highway to Melbourne."

"The Bracks Government's commitment to regional communities looks fine on paper but we have yet to see any evidence of it in this case. The Coles Myer Board, as one of the largest corporations in Australia, has to ask itself whether it has an obligation to the regional communities that it so readily milks profits from." Mr Foley said.

The ASU has announced plans for a sustained political and community campaign to force both the state Government and Coles Myer to commit to the Geelong Jobs.

For further campaign information visit: http://www.savetargetjobs.org

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 103 contents

Interview: Political Witch Hunt
CFMEU national secretary John Sutton on the mooted Royal Commission and what is really needed to clean up the building industry

E-Change: 1.3 The Nation State in Crisis
In the latest instalment in their study on the new politics, Peter Lewis and Michael Gadiel looks at the rise and fall of the institutional State.

Unions: Industrial Violence
Rowan Cahill agrees with Tony Abbott that thuggery and violence are part of Australian industrial relations landscape - but it's the bosses who do most of the bashing.

History: Total Recoil
Neal Towart looks at how Royal Commissions designed to kick unions have typically come back to haunt their architects.

International: Behind the Eight Ball
Jubilee Australia's Thea Ormond looks at the international activity being generated around this week's Group of Eight Summit in Genoa

Politics: Now We The People
A new group believes there is an alternative to corporate gobalism and economic rationalism

Satire: Marsden Now to Sue Himself
Sydney solicitor John Marsden is suing himself for defamation, claiming the recent libel case he brought did irreparable damage to his reputation.

Review: In The House
Resident Four-Eyes Mark Morey attempts the impossible with this attempt at a serious analysis of Big Brother.

» Survey Shows Majority Support for Unions

» Howard's Union Stooge in Hot Water

» Unions Cash in on Big Brother

» Big Boys Bully Over Della Compo Changes

» Where's WorkCover? Safety Prosecutions Drop Off

» Telstra's Ultimatum: Stay Away From Kim

» Workers Win Stake in New Bank

» Hours Test Case Gets Green Light

» St John of God Workers Pray for Justice

» Five-Star Action From Security Guards

» Howard Plans to Stop the Vote

» Rio Outrage Heads for Court

» Nurses To Fight For Pay

» One Hundred Reasons to Save Aussie Post

» Rail Track Sell-Off Part of Privatisation Push

» Coles Myer Abandons Regional Jobs

» Qld Wage Rise Still Not Enough

» Activists Notebook

» The Soapbox

» The Locker Room

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» Problems with Hunter Decision

» A Lost Cause

» High Farce

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