Tables Turn
Newcastle Herald
Saturday March 11, 2000
THE refusal by sacked National Textiles workers to release fabric from the Rutherford factory to keep fellow unionists in work has been described as `selfish and bloody minded' by their own union officials.
Textile Clothing and Footwear Union officials made an impassioned plea yesterday to workers picketing the factory to release $140,000 worth of fireproof cotton drill, needed to preserve the jobs of 80 textile workers in Queensland.
Despite the fact that the managing director of the Queensland company flew from Perth to plead for the release, he left empty handed after the sacked workers voted to delay a decision on releasing the fabric until 5pm Monday.
By then it is expected a deed of arrangement will be signed by creditors which will give the workers $11million in entitlements.
Former National Textiles worker Brian Blakemore said workers had gone through too much hardship to start making concessions now.
`This is a picket line, not a picnic line,' Mr Blakemore said. `Nothing is going to be taken from here until we are assured of getting our money.
`I feel sorry for anyone who is going to be laid off but you have to understand our position here.'
Union spokesman Steve Davies said money from the sale of the fabric would be placed in a trust to protect workers' entitlements.
But workers rejected the proposal and ignored warnings from the union that refusal could cost them public support.
Simon Stewart, the managing director of Stewart and Heaton Clothing Company, which owns the textile company employing the Queensland workers, said the fabric was needed to make coats for the country's rural firefighters.
Mr Stewart said workers at the Gympie clothing factory had already been cut back to three days a week and faced being stood down if the fabric was not delivered.
`We have got obligations to our customers to provide that product, we have got
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National Textiles picketers won't budge on fabric call
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workers who want to make it and we have got a whole lot of fabric over there behind a shed,' Mr Stewart said.
`It doesn't make a lot of sense that we can't get access to it.'
Mr Davies said the workers need to show compassion for their Queensland colleagues.
`Just because you're not working doesn't mean these people in Queensland shouldn't work,' Mr Davies said.
`That is the height of selfishness. Not to release this rag would be bloody minded.'
Clarence Town man and former National Textiles worker David Evans was one of the minority who supported the union proposal.
`I can only go with my gut feeling and my gut feeling is I don't want to see anyone else lose their jobs,' Mr Evans said.
Mr Davies denied the union had been forced to back down on its proposal, after workers voted to delay a decision on moving the fabric until 5pm on Monday.
`What happened here today is just an example of vigorous union democracy,' Mr Davies said.
`I had desires that the material could come out today . . . they (the workers) didn't quite see it that way,' he said.
`They have waited nearly two months for their money and they're apprehensive and they're getting tired and emotional and I understand that.'
© 2000 Newcastle Herald