Ford workers face 300 job cuts at Broadmeadows and Geelong plants

BREAKING: FORD has confirmed it will cut 300 jobs in June with the Broadmeadows and Geelong plants both to be affected.

Ford workers brace for announcement

FORD has confirmed it will cut 300 Victorian jobs in June.

The Broadmeadows and Geelong plants will both be affected.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood told the Herald Sun that workers were being told today.

"It will be across our manufacturing sites in Victoria," he said.

"We're working with our manufacturing unions and partners."

Mr Sherwood said the unions were told of the cuts this morning and they were delivering the news to workers.

There will also be down days or factory shutdowns as demand for Falcon and Territory models made at the plants declines.

"We informed the manufacturing unions leadership this morning," he said.

Ford will close its manufacturing in October 2016.

But Mr Sherwood said the latest models of Falcon and Territory cars were still on track.

The company will expand its retail range in 2017.

In May last year Ford has announced its plants at Broadmeadows and Geelong will close their doors in October 2016, resulting in the loss of 650 and 510 jobs respectively.

At the time Victorian Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said the end of manufacturing at Ford was a black day, but it has strengthened the case for the DisabilityCare headquarters to be based in Geelong.

Mr Ryan said the state government would provide $9 million for affected workers and the federal government would provide $30 million.

"For those people who bare the brunt of this, this is indeed a black day," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"Our thoughts go out to those who are directly affected."

Union representative Leigh Diehm said last year there was "great concern" about the flow-on effect for the rest of the automotive industry.

More than 1000 employees work at the Broadmeadows site, with a further 840 in Geelong.

Ford said 1500 people would still work for Ford in Australia as well as its 200 car dealers.

"Unemployment in this state is high and the workers are quite concerned about the future," Mr Diehm said.

"This will gut Geelong and gut Broadmeadows - the people living in these communities will be gutted.

More to come