ONCE again, workers at the DSI factory in Lavington have cause for concern about their futures, with the prospect of the plant closing in October next year.
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The plant’s Chinese owners, Geely Automotive, have a contract to supply gearboxes to SsangYong until that time but there are no contracts in place beyond then.
It’s more worrying news for the workforce after a roller-coaster few years.
In March last year, 250 workers were stood down for a week after a dispute with a US parts supplier.
That followed the sacking in February of more than 100 casual workers.
With SsangYong the last remaining customer, it’s sadly a far cry from when the factory had Nissan, General-Motors Holden and Ford on board, with a staff of 1250 people in 1982.
The manufacturing sector in Australia is feeling the pinch, none more so that those in the automotive industry.
Union officials say the company is doing everything in its power.
Unfortunately, the 170 staff at Lavington will get no answers in the short term about their future.
It’s just a waiting game now.
But DSI has been written off before only to beat the odds.
