Union Manufacturing Alliance

Date: 24 July 2009

Australia's two largest Blue Collar Unions are in Canberra today to launch an Alliance to address the jobs crisis in the manufacturing industry and to ensure that Australia remains a country that makes things.

The Australian Workers' Union (AWU) and the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) represent over 250,000 workers and have members in almost every town in Australia.

Address the loss of 77,000 jobs in manufacturing in 12 months

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes and AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver said that the Manufacturing Alliance was formed with the intention of ensuring that the manufacturing industry's interests were heard at all government levels, to support and promote Australian manufacturing businesses, to lead debates and further the industry, and to ensure that the two unions work jointly to protect and promote the sector.

AWU National Secretary Paul Howes said that one of the main objectives for this alliance was to promote Australian content in our nation's large scale public and private infrastructure projects and to address the loss of our 77,000 jobs in the industry in the last 12 months.

Make our manufacturers 1st port of call for infrastructure project tendering

"Australian manufacturers ought to be the first port of call when it comes to tendering for major infrastructure projects, as the benefits to the economy and the boost to employment far outweighs the cost and impact of sourcing materials made overseas," Mr Howes said.

"We must prepare for the future, and ensure that our industry, and our country, is well positioned to navigate the global financial crisis, and come out at the other end with a strong recovery," said Mr Howes.

National Action Plan to focus on immense potential manufacturing holds

AMWU National Secretary Dave Oliver said that at this time of economic instability Australia needs to continue to stimulate the economy, increase employment and invest in the national interest by supporting the local manufacturing industry.

"This is the sort of stimulus Australia now needs, one that gives a longer term benefit, and supports communities, businesses and individuals for a long time to come." Mr. Oliver said.

"Australia is proud of its long history of making things. For this reason, we are urging a dialogue between industry, union and government over the next six months to form a National Action Plan to maximise competitive advantage and to focus on the immense potential manufacturing holds," said Mr Oliver.

October national roundtable in Canberra for manufacturing stakeholders

The Manufacturing Alliance will be ensuring that the issue of manufacturing is high on the agenda for the ALP National Conference.

Mr Howes and Mr Oliver also announced that they will convene a national roundtable inviting all key manufacturing stakeholders to Canberra to discuss the future of the industry on 28th October.

How the media has responded

• A case of make or we break (The Australian Opinion piece)

• Two union foes form alliance to save manufacturing jobs ( ABC AM)

• Unions push PM on action plan for jobs (The Australian)

• Factional politics out as unions try to save jobs (AAP)

• Union alliance to focus on manufacturing (ATN)

• Union leader Paul Howes plays down economic recovery (The Australian)

• AWU and AMWU join forces on jobs (The Union Show)

For further information

Contact:	Paul Howes and Dave Oliver
Union:	Manufacturing Alliance
WWW:	http://manufacturingalliance.org.au/

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