MELBOURNE: The swanky environs of GPO shopping centre are usually witness to nothing more disturbing than shoppers in search of high end threads and bling. But not today.
At midday, outside the GPO Building on Bourke St Mall, the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA), along with Pacific Brands workers, other unions and the wider community took to the streets to protest against Pacific Brands' decision to move 1,850 jobs offshore.
Among the attendees were members of the United Firefighters Union with a planned "anti-fashion" parade of Bonds and Pacific Brands products.
Similar protests are also planned tomorrow, March 6, at Pacific Brands facilities in New South Wales.
The move follows TCFUA calls earlier this week for Bonds ambassadors Pat Rafter, Sarah Murdoch and Michael Clarke to urge Pacific Brands to reverse its decision.
"As you are no doubt aware the employers at Pacific Brands, after being granted millions in government funding are planning to sack nearly 2000 of their workforce," said the TCFUA open letter to Rafter, Murdoch and Clarke.
"Their motive for these sackings appears to be to increase company profits by shifting their manufacturing base overseas."
The letter suggested most workers would face long-term unemployment, while acknowledging the three celebrities were role models to million of Australians.
It went on to ask Rafter, Murdoch and Clarke to urge Pacific Brands to reverse its decision and to disassociate themselves from the company and its brands until it did so.
TCFUA national secretary Michele O'Neil said the union did not accept Pacific Brands' decision to offshore 1,850 jobs was necessary.
"This decision by Pacific Brands is a devastating blow to Australian industry, the community, and, of course, our members who have worked loyally for the company, in many cases, for decades."