Queensland manufacturers hit back at union

Queensland clothing manufacturers and their workers have lashed out at union enforcement of outworker protection laws as an erosion of their livelihood and flexibility.
While many manufacturers supported the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia's (TCFUA) bid to clamp down on sweatshops, it appears some contractors who had chosen the flexibility and freedom of working from home feel they have been caught in the cross fire.
Seaborne Clothing owner Stephen Spence said he employed four contractors all of whom were happy with their current employment conditions.
"They're not outworkers, they're all Australian and they are all happy to work from home."
Spence said his outworker staff received around $20 an hour and they set the rates of pay themselves.
They also have the right to refuse work and to engage in other contracts and could even hire people to help them out if they wish providing all staff had an Australian Business Number.
"These people rely on me. It's crazy that they're being classed as the same as sweatshop workers who are paid a few cents to work in a shed with no rights and no flexibility.
"It bothers me that I am being classed in the same category as the wrong doers," Spence said.
Seaborne Clothing contract Lisa Malzard said while contractors were paid around $4 a garment, their potential earnings from piecework were far greater than those accrued through an hourly rate of pay.
"I can get through around 40 garments a day. He [Spence] is a great person to work for. If these changes went through I would be in very dire straits. I would have to close my business and go on the dole until I could find work. It would absolutely devastating for me."
Rosemount Uniforms owner Barb Thatcher said when the government started legislating on outworker's working conditions, outworkers lost any benefit gained from choosing to work from home in the first place.
"They are paid per item because if they're working from home they can't be supervised. If they decide to do the washing or look after their kids, there's no way we can tell how productive they're being."