EPMU Media release

18 January 2007

Closure shows need for new manufacturing approach says union

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing union will be meeting with its members at Blundstone tomorrow to discuss the footwear company's closure of its Henderson factory.

Yesterday the Australian-owned company announced it would be moving its Australasian operations overseas in September after several years of financial difficulty.

EPMU National Secretary Andrew Little says the closure is another example of the need for a different approach to manufacturing in New Zealand.

"This company struggled while it was John Bull and has continued to do so after Blundstone took it over and a good part of that is the fact that it has only been an assembly plant for imported components for some time now.

"There needs to be a coordinated approach to all manufacturing in New Zealand so that companies such as Blundstone are encouraged to innovate and produce real added value rather than just relying on a put it together and churn it out approach."

The EPMU covers 43 of Blundstone's 58 workers and the redundancy package applies to union members only.

Little says the long lead-in to the closure means there is time to minimise the adverse effects on members who are facing redundancy.

"Factory closures and redundancies are never easy things to go through but we'll be looking at an exit package for members and with current labour shortages the job prospects for these skilled workers are good."

The union expects discussions with the company over the closure will begin next week.

ENDS

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