Seminar Focus on Concern for Manufacturing

Wednesday, 9 March 2005, 2:50 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

MEDIA RELEASE
09 March 2005

Seminar Focus on Concern for Manufacturing

Concern over the future of manufacturing in New Zealand will be the focus of a Council of Trade Unions seminar in Wellington tomorrow.

Around 20 union leaders representing workers in manufacturing industries are expected to attend the seminar.

“Unions are concerned at the impact of proposed free trade agreements on the manufacturing sector,” said CTU president Ross Wilson.

“We are already seeing job losses in the clothing, textile and footwear industries and as companies like Interlok pack up and relocate off-shore.”

The former economist of the Manufacturers Federation, Peter Crawford, will present a paper on the future of New Zealand Manufacturing, and the Minister of Economic Development, Jim Anderton, will speak on the Government’s view on the sector’s future.

UNDERSTANDING OUR INDUSTRY
(An approved EREL Course on Enterprise and Industry Economics)

THE FUTURE OF N.Z. MANUFACTURING

VENUE: RSA, WESTBROOK HSE 181 WILLIS ST (OPP CTU)
WELLINGTON
DATE: 10 MARCH 2005

PROGRAMME: Morning is open to the media.

8.45 am Coffee

9.00 am Introductions and opening comments
CTU officers

9.30 am Session One: The economics of the NZ Manufacturing Industry
What makes up the NZ Manufacturing Industry? Paper by Peter Crawford, comments by Alfred Ohlers.

10.30 am Morning Tea

10.45 am Session Two: Institutions for Economic Development
What is the view of Government on the future of the manufacturing sector?
Speech by Minister of Economic Development Jim Anderton

12.30 pm Lunch (lunch will be provided)

THE FOLLOWING IS CLOSED TO THE MEDIA.

1.00 pm Session Three: Positive Employment Relations and the Regional Economy
What is the link between our "core" union work and economic development?
Presentation from CTU

1.30 pm Session Four: Presentations by unions on industry strategies.

2.45pm Afternoon Tea

3.00pm Session Five: Establishing our tasks, what next.
Planning the next steps that unions can take to ensure the continuation of a manufacturing sector in New Zealand.

4.15pm Evaluation

4.30pm Finish

This seminar will help participants understand the present and future prospects for the manufacturing sector in New Zealand. It will inform participants of the make up of the sector and opportunities and threats to growth. It will hear key Government views on the future development of manufacturing. Finally it will assist unions and workers in the manufacturing sector develop their own plans and strategies to engage with industry and government to ensure the continuation of the sector.

The seminar is part of a programme of Enterprise and Industry Economics seminars developed by the Council of trade Unions for unions in different sectors and regions of the economy.

ENDS

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New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

Te Kauae Kaimahi

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi brings together over 350,000 New Zealand union members in 40 affiliated unions. We are the united voice for working people and their families in New Zealand.

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