Ford Aust s secret plan to cost jobs =2 Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-1998
Ford Aust s secret plan to cost jobs =2 Brisbane

Ford later dismissed the union's claims, saying the
confidential meetings held with dealer principals were
"preliminary talks" and there was no immediate cause for
concern.

Ford public relations manager Louise Teesdale said it made
sense for dealers and the company to get together to work out
strategies to provide a more efficient service to customers.

She said the meetings, like all meetings about marketing
strategies, were confidential.

"If we're throwing around great ideas, we don't want our
competitors to know," she said.

Ms Teesdale said any changes to the dealership structure
would be developed in conjunction with dealers, rather than
being imposed on them, and the process would not be as speedy
as the AMWU predicted.

"There will be no immediate impact at the moment on staff
or anyone else," she said.

"Whatever we may or may not decide to do in the future,
it's not something that's going to happen overnight."

But Ms Teesdale said the fears of Ford dealers and their
employees were understandable.

"If anybody's talking about trying to get significant
changes in the way they do business, people are naturally
always fearful of any negative impact," she said.

"We can't blame people for being concerned, but there's
certainly no immediate cause for concern."

AAP

KEYWORD: FORD 2 BRISBANE (REOPENS)

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