The news came as a slap in the face to the members of the 280-strong Illawarra workforce who were told last year they were no longer needed.
The largely female workforce of Bonds Unanderra and KingGee Bellambi were devastated in February last year when told of Pacific Brands' decision to close both factories.
More than 80 KingGee staff were laid off; 200 workers followed at Bonds in March this year.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said the profits confirmed the belief that "big business will always look after itself".
"The chief concern of Pacific Brands, like other companies, is to satisfy their shareholders, not the people of this region," he said.
Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union national secretary Michelle O'Neil said the profits would only fuel the frustration of retrenched workers.
"After all their years of hard work and loyalty to the company ... the decision to end these workers' employment wasn't based on an unprofitable company, just one that wanted greater profits," she said.
Ms O'Neil said the effects of the lay-offs were still being felt across the region.
"Some have found other work, but the majority of [those] have only found short term, casual and insecure work," she said.
"It's not the same as having an ongoing, permanent job."
The union is calling for state and federal governments to intervene with policies which support companies manufacturing in Australia.
"People want to be able to buy good quality products that are made ethically here in Australia," she said.
"The more that products move offshore, the less we know about how those products are being made and how those workers are really being treated."
No comments:
Post a Comment