The Australian Workers Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union have called on the Prime Minister to establish a more permanent form of a manufacturing taskforce.
The two manufacturing unions have proposed the idea of a permanent top-level group to oversee the industry. The proposal has been backed by the Australian Industry Group, the SMH has reported.
The report coincides with tomorrow’s manufacturing meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In attendance will be Treasurer, Wayne Swan, and six other ministers, as well as executives from seven manufacturing employers, including OneSteel, Boeing, Holden and Kraft, and the ACTU and heads of manufacturing unions.
The taskforce, made up of ministers, chief executives and unionists, was set up following the recent jobs forum, which was held in response to a string of factory closures and manufacturing job cuts.