The Australian TCF industry remains vital and important.
Today, the TCF industry is a $2.8 billion industry that continues to employ over 48,000 in manufacturing and many thousand others as outworkers. But the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) and its members need your help to make sure our politicians and business leaders make the right policy decisions and investments to build our manufacturing industry.
TAKE ACTION to support Australian TCF jobs
The TCF industry has suffered in the past few decades. During John Howard’s watch the industry experienced five tariff cuts - with another due in 2010, and lost more than 40,000 Australian jobs. TCF exports have halved and imports have almost doubled. Four Free Trade Agreements that hurt Australian manufacturing have come into effect and nine more are in the pipeline.
The new Labor government has called on Professor Roy Green to review the TCF industry and make recommendations to revitalise TCF capabilities for this country. Prime Minister Rudd says he wants to lead “a country that actually makes things.”
The TCFUA and its members believe Australian manufacturing is ready to emerge from a decade of neglect.
The TCFUA has made a submission to the Green Review with a plan for Australia’s TCF industry that centres around four points:
- Encourage and develop an innovative, smart, ethical, clean and green industry
- Freeze tariffs and expand industry assistance to support and create quality skilled jobs
- Guarantee entitlements and provide effective assistance for retrenched workers
- Establish a TCF Innovation Council to support and implement the new plan
Take Action
Take Action to help support Australian TCF jobs by sending a letter to Prime Minister Rudd, Professor Green and Minister Carr. Write a letter to your local Member of Parliament and newspapers, ring talkback radio, and spread the word to your friends families and workmates.