'WHAT HAS THE UNION GOT TO DO WITH MY FASHION LABEL?"
(In laymen's terms for the fashionably naive)
The union which presides over our fashion industry is called the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA). Many designers don't know the difference between the TCFUA, the Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA), Australian Fashion Council (AFC), Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), Australian Industry Group (AIG) or Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA) either.
It is becoming increasingly evident that nobody in our industry understands what they should be adhering to or even need to. Let me cut through the noise...
All businesses in fashion making a product must follow the federal award. If a designer does not follow the TCFUA award, they will be fined $10,000 per breach of the award. The award is not easy to follow for a "fashion student type" or grown ups for that matter. They don't teach you that at school!
The first thing you must do, if you give sewing or other related work out to someone else, is make sure you have registered for a BOR number. "So what's that?," say most of our young ones. Well it's a Board Of Registration number you have to have to be registered with the Industrial Relations Commission and the TCFUA.
If they find your garments in a factory on one of their inspections, and you are not registered, they will fine you $10,000. Then they will come and inspect your work record books, hours, wages, super, holiday pay, sick pay, work cover. If you have left anything out, you will be in trouble!
I don't meant to scare anyone out there but I don't want even more unhappiness and frustration. I want our young ones to flourish here in Australia. Don't spend all your money at the lawyers (most can't read the award either) and instead go to the Fairwork Ombudsman and explain the things you do not understand. He will not bite, and will welcome your interest in trying to do the right thing.
He will help you for FREE. So when you get that letter saying "We are coming to inspect you" you will have all the T's crossed and the I's dotted. You can a join industry group but you have to pick the right one, depending on what your issues are and how they can help. None are mandatory to join. There is a lot more stuff to know, but this is the most important for a small business, to stay afloat.