170 jobs can be allocated to the GFC.Bosch axes 380 jobs at Melbourne plant
Employees are "devastated" and the federal government is disappointed after a Melbourne car parts maker announced 380 manufacturing jobs would go offshore.
Robert Bosch Australia told employees on Friday afternoon that it would be relocating some of its manufacturing operations overseas, affecting 380 jobs over the next two years at its plant in Clayton, in Melbourne's southeast.
The company's Clayton workforce will be cut to 720 people by the end of 2013, and 1480 nationally.
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Cesar Melhem, Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers Union (AWU), said Bosch employees were "devastated".
The announcement was unexpected, especially after employees helped the company through the global financial crisis by taking pay cuts and working fewer hours, he said.
"There hasn't been any indication from the company over recent times that they were thinking of any restructure... it's just out of the blue," Mr Melhem told AAP.
In 2009, the company axed 170 jobs at the same plant, blaming the cuts on the global financial crisis.
But it can't blame the GFC for the latest cuts, Mr Melhem said.
Labor can be blamed for more than doubling that amount.
Pat on the back, fucktards
