Unions Support Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Carpet Strategy

Unions are giving full support to the Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Carpet strategy developed by government, industry and union representatives over the past 18 months.

The draft strategy goes out for comment to the TCFC industry at meetings convened throughout the country on Monday 9 September and Tuesday 10 September.

Already the unions have run five seminars involving almost 100 officials and delegates to consider the strategy.

"Our people have given it the thumbs-up," said Robert Reid, who represents the Council of Trade Unions, NDU and Clothing Workers Union on the industry strategy group.

"For more than 15 years successive governments have turned their backs on the industry, considering it an inefficient sunset industry and consigning its work force to the scrap heap," Robert Reid said.

"Employment in the industry has halved to just under 20,000 over this 15 year period.

"It was at the initiative of the unions in February 2001 that the Labour Alliance Government took up the challenge to fund the in depth sector analysis and strategy to turn the industry around. Although there is now a new government in place we hope for its continued support," said Robert Reid.

"The strategy document shows that with the right support the TCFC industry can achieve significant growth and provide sustainable and much better paying jobs than it has in the past.

"The strategy shows that it is possible for the industry to achieve annual export receipts of $1 billion in five years. It also targets government and corporate buying policies for adding to the volume of locally based manufacture.

"Finally the lack of training for workers and management has been identified as a large blockage for industry growth. Poor wages and the elimination of sweatshop operators must also be a priority if workers are to be attracted into the industry," said Robert Reid.

"The strategy proposes the establishment of a code of conduct to deal with these issues.

"Unions fully support the call of the strategy document for the establishment of an Industry Development Organisation (IDO) to lead, advocate and coordinate the industry in picking up the other aspects of the strategy," Robert Reid said.

"The unions will be financially contributing to the IDO and will play a key role within it."

The full strategy document is available on the Industry New Zealand web site at:

Http://www.industrynz.govt.nz/about-us/publications/reports.asp