The following article was published in the Geelong Advertiser on Saturday, June 27th, 2009.

Workers awake to see new dawn

Jeff Whalley, The Geelong Advertiser

It's like every single person on the factory floor winning Tattslotto.

That's how Viridian worker Matt De Been describes the reaction to the news that their jobs have been saved.

"I said to my father-in-law, now all of us can go home with confidence. We know we can feed the kids, pay the mortgage and buy the small extra things to live nice and comfortably," Mr De Been said.

But it has been difficult for the workers who have faced an emotional roller-coaster ride as they faced losing their job which many of them have had for their adult lives.

They had hopes raised and then dashed several times as differing efforst to revive the faltering comapny rose and fell. 

Mr De Been and his mates Jeff Cockerell and Kevin Avery have all been in the job for 20 years.

"Going home and explaining to the family was the toughest part. In the end you didn't want to raise expectations too much. Everyone gets hopeful as one minute it looks like a goer," Mr Cockerell says.

"This went on for a couple of months," Mr Avery adds.

The trio said they cut back expenses in their household budgets as they prepared for the worst.

Viridian Battle a Rare Tale of Survival

Danny Lannen The Geelong Advertiser

UNION Chief Frank Vari described it as a long and tiresome process.

But the battlet to save Geelong's doomed Viridian automotive glass plant was worth every dogged step as it transformed into a survival story hailed as rare for its times.

The plant now stands as an industrial phoenix in North Geelong after its sale by CSR to MH Group, MHG.

The sale saved 60 jobs and a crucial toehold in Australia's automotive industry. It survives as Australia's only automotive glass plant, supplying now for Toyota and in the futureperhaps more companies.

Mr Vari, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union assistant state secretary, was one of the first men on the scene after CSR announced in January plans to shut down the North Geelong site.

He became one in a cast of quiet heroes who plyed out parts in reaching an unlikely goal.

"If there was a person who maintained belief in that place in its darkest hour, it was Frank," Member for Corio Richard Marles said yesterday.

"They were so active, it's one of the best pieces of organising work from a union official I think I've ever seen." (our emphasis)

Actions drew tributes yesterday as Viridian's news spread and the story of its saving was attributed to many sources.

Mr Marles descriibed the City of Greater Geelong's efforts in the campaign as heroic and Mayor John Mitchell revealed a $40,000 contribution from City Hall played its part.

The city and State Government shared costs employing national business consulting and advisory fiurm Deloitte to build a business analysis of the Viridian operation.

"Deloitte reviewed all aspects of the business and its viability and this cleared the way for Viridian to find a suitable buyer and to remain in Geelong as a major competitive player in an industry with huge economic potential for the future," Cr Mitchells said.