Manufacturing is the future, says a retiring Little

New Zealand must "make more stuff" if it is to survive as a country, says the out-going head of the country's largest private-sector union.

Andrew Little, who steps down as national secretary of the EPMU (Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union) today, has told delegates gathered in Auckland that they must fight to ensure New Zealand workers have access to well-paid manufacturing jobs.

"The reality is that we will survive as a country only if we increase the nation's income by making more stuff we can sell," he said in a speech to a meeting of the union's industry councils.

"The economy is undergoing a lot of change at the moment. We have seen the loss of a lot of manufacturing in New Zealand over the past four years. Food production is on the increase. But at some point, we are going to have to see a return to more high-value manufacturing."

Mr Little cited Fonterra as a business where high quality management-union relationships have led to a great business and good pay and conditions.

Experiences at Fonterra resulted in the EPMU and the Dairy Workers' Union setting up a Centre for High Performance Work, as an example of the way in which workers can boost the performance of companies for the benefit of all.

But he warned delegates that they face a tough battle against an anti-worker Government that has already stripped away many workplace protections, and is planning further attacks.

Mr Little, who has led the EPMU since 2000 when he was elected unopposed as the successor to out-going national secretary Rex Jones, will continue working for the union as a lawyer until later this year. He is also standing as the Labour candidate in his home town of New Plymouth in this year's general election.

Highlights of his 11 years in the top position have included the Fair Share - Five in '05 campaign for a five per cent wage rise for workers, the successful negotiation of a multi-employer collective agreement in the mining industry and the continuation of the industry-leading metals agreement, campaigns to prevent the outsourcing of heavy maintenance engineering and airport services at Air New Zealand, negotiation of a collective agreement for Taranaki oil and gas workers providing for Australian rates of pay, and the fostering of strong relationships with other organisations, including international unions.

Ends

© Scoop Media