'Dark day for Geelong': City to bear the brunt of Ford Australia's cuts

Daniel is one of the many workers who have an uncertain future at Ford Australia's Geelong factory.

Ford Australia confirmed yesterday that about 400 jobs will be cut from its local workforce in an attempt to "improve efficiency".

"I have been here six years from tomorrow, I'm hoping that I can go on but I don't know," Daniel said.

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One in five Australian Ford workers will be made redundant from September, with the majority of losses in product development and design.

It's understood around 50 blue collar workers will also go.

Workers have told 9News they had been bracing for this news and the scale of the redundancies was expected.

A Ford spokesperson told 9news.com.au that they had began consultation with employees and unions on the cuts.

"The majority of these will be in product development and design, with a small number in other functions," the spokesperson said.

"The changes are part of Ford's global drive to improve efficiency and transform its operations to meet future needs.

"Australia will continue to be the centre of development for the Ranger and Everest globally."

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AMWU vehicle industry coordinator Vince Pepi said the move was "disheartening" but believed the redundancies would be voluntary.

"We understand that this news will be difficult for many workers and their families, and we want to ensure they have all the resources they need," Pepi said.

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson, who is based in Geelong, hoped the government would intervene.

"This is a very dark day for Geelong," Henderson said.

The redundancies are expected to take effect in September.

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