Mike Rann lashes out at Mitsubishi’s global chief

Source: Manufacturing Digital

Date :06/02/2008 17:00:23

South Australian premier Mike Rann has accused the Japanese company’s officials of being ‘dishonest and shirking responsibility.’

Mr. Rann believes Osamu Masuko, Mitsubishi’s Japanese president, should have attended the Tonsley Park Plant and announced the job cuts in person.

Instead, the job was left to Rob McEniry the Australian president of Mitsubishi.

"All of the efforts by the people in Australia, particularly a dedicated and loyal workforce ... have been constantly undermined by damaging leaks out of Tokyo...... Leaks in my view from an enemy within the company that were designed to undermine jobs in Australia,” the South Australian president said.

These rifts have been caused by an accumulated loss over the past ten years of $1.5 billion, which in turn pushed the Tokyo board to close the assembly operations in Australia, causing 930 workers to lose their jobs.

Workforce

Mr. Rann fought back at this decision: “Over the years Mitsubishi have not been frank with their workforce, have not been frank with the Australian people and have not been frank with their own officials in Australia.”

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he refers to constant reports from Japan that Mitsubishi’s Australian operations have been underperforming and at risk of imminent closure.

The government responded immediately with a $50 million assistance package to attract investment in manufacturing in Adelaide’s south and to help retrain Mitsubishi staff.

Mitsubishi has declared they will repay the government at least $35 million and have promised to work with government agencies to provide counselling, retraining and other services for workers.

February 06, 2008