Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union Workers, representing employees at glass supplier Pilkington plc, want GM Holden Ltd. to reconsider its decision to import windscreens from Thailand from mid-2006, according to a report from WardsAuto.com.

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The union reportedly said the decision will cost up to 120 Australian jobs but GM Holden responded that the supplier doesn’t want the business.


A company spokesman told WardsAuto.com that manufacturers in Thailand have the technology to provide the quality Holden is looking for.


“We had very lengthy discussions with Pilkington about that,” he told the auto industry website. “They chose not to make that investment. We gave them ample opportunity.”


Insiders told WardsAuto.com that GM Holden told Pilkington of its plan to upgrade glass quality as far back as 2003.

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A union spokesman said in media reports that Pilkington workers were calling on GM Holden to rethink its decision to send jobs offshore.


According to WardsAuto.com, he said, as a result of the auto maker’s decision, Pilkington has announced the closure of its glazing plant in South Australia and has told the union it will have to drop 58% of its automotive glass workforce because of the lost business.


However, a Pilkington spokesman reportedly said no decision had been made on how many of the 280 jobs in its automotive sector would have to go. “It’s too early to quantify,” he said. “Worse-case scenario, it’s looking to be over 100 jobs.”


The spokesman told WardsAuto.com that Pilkington has contracts with Toyota Australia and Mitsubishi Motors Australia and is seeking more contracts.