Union applauds Green’s manufacturing announcement

A union representing working people in the wood, textile and food sections of the manufacturing industry is applauding Green co-leader James Shaw’s announcement that the party will appoint a Minister for Manufacturing in a future government the party is a part of.

‘New Zealand needs a manufacturing industry that offers secure work and well-paying jobs. But the sector has been taking a hit after years of neoliberal policies. In the last few months our union has been dealing with dozens of redundancies in the textile industry,’ said FIRST Union General Secretary Robert Reid.

‘A Minister for Manufacturing is good for working people and good for business. We need an economy that works for everyone and that means growing the manufacturing sector. Not everyone wants to be an IT consultant.’

‘While this Government may claim that there are more and more jobs in manufacturing, there are fewer jobs in what’s called “elaborately transformed manufacturing” as well as the value-added and green manufacturing this country needs.’

‘FIRST Union has been advocating for a Minister for Manufacturing for several years, most recently at the Green, Labour and New Zealand First’s “Manufacturing Inquiry” in 2013.’

‘We look forward to more detailed policies on manufacturing from the Greens, Labour and New Zealand First leading into the next election,’ said Reid.

ENDS

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