Union urges help for 400 DSI workers

(AAP) - A union has called for immediate government assistance for 400 workers sent home without pay on Monday after a vehicle component manufacturer in Albury went into receivership.

AMWU vehicle division assistant federal secretary Dave Smith said the workers, from
component manufacturer DSI, need to be able to claim their entitlements and have
fast access to Centrelink.
"They need to put food on the table and pay their mortgages and rent," Mr Smith said.
"The union will be contacting federal and state politicians to make sure that all
that can be done will be done for these workers, and that this will happen quickly."
Mr Smith said DSI recently lost a large contract when Korean car manufacturer
SsangYong found itself in financial difficulty.
It comes at a time of declining vehicle sales and production both in Australia and
overseas, costing the company dearly, he said.
He said the receivers told the union on Monday that they were hopeful of making
arrangements to maintain some production within the next few weeks, but that would
depend on Ford Australia and DSI's component suppliers.
"We believe that even if production does resume, about 200 workers will not have
jobs to return to," Mr Smith said.
"We also understand that there is not enough money potentially to pay the workers
their entitlements.
"These workers need the government to take action to make sure that the usual red
tape is short-circuited so that these workers are not reliant on charity."