CTU MEDIA RELEASE
12 March 2007

CTU Challenges Writing Off of NZ Manufacturing Industry

The New Zealand manufacturing industry and the 300,000 workers it employs is too important to the New Zealand economy to be written off, the Council of Trade Unions said today.

“The New Zealand Institute’s latest report setting out the case to outsource manufacturing is a kick in the teeth to the 300,000 workers in manufacturing, and doesn’t take account of the work being done to transform this industry,” CTU president Ross Wilson said.

“The Manufacturing Plus initiative that unions, business and government are working on is charting out a modern, viable and growing manufacturing sector in New Zealand, and has lead to a greater recognition of the economic development needs of manufacturing in New Zealand.”

“Investing in manufacturing opportunities, carrying on with programmes to lift skills, and leveraging new technologies will multiply high value jobs in New Zealand at a faster rate than a business model which outsources production.”

“The $11.5 million fund for Buy Kiwi Made is a small but important amount to support manufacturing in New Zealand, and locally made products must remain the priority of this initiative,” Ross Wilson said.

ENDS