![TFIA: Speaking out. [Image: Wendell Levi Teodoro @Zeduce. org.]](http://yaffa-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/ragtrader/images/dmImage/StandardImage/Wendell - mid 20132.jpg)
The Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) has slammed the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (TCFUA) for allegedly “threatening” small businesses within the sector.
The confrontation follows a recent letter penned by the union, warning small businesses within the TCF industry that they could incur fines in the thousands if they don’t meet certain parts of Legislation or the Award.
The letter, sent by registered mail, has been branded by the TFIA CEO Richard Evans as an act of bullying and an attempt by the TCFUA to “frighten and intimidate hardworking small businesses within the struggling TCF industry”.
“This is pure union thuggery 101,” Evans said.
“The bully boys at the TCFUA must have KPIs written back in the 1940’s for this outrageous behaviour to be acceptable in a modern Australian workplace.”
Evans also pointed to various claims within the letter demanding that employers are at risk of fines over $100,000 if they don’t meet certain parts of Legislation or the Award, and putting the employer on notice they will be watching, “just like big brother”.
“It must have been a slow week for the communications person at the Union to have allowed this rubbish to be sent to hard working Australian businesses,” he said.
“The letter quotes apparent case law from 2004 and 2006,” Evans said. “What the Union fails to disclose is that since that time, the Fair Work Act has been enacted; the Award has been amended and modified; and the Home Workers Code has been initiated into the market.”
“This means the union has been very provocative with their language and out of date with their facts,” Evans said.
He added that the union should “embrace the modern workplace where effective communication is not about bullying” and refer to the Victorian and Federal laws on workplace bullying to understand their requirements.
“Australian small businesses are working hard enough trying to support their families and the families of their employees and don’t need this intimidation,” Evans said.
“The TFIA supports a compliant workplace and we work to educate our members, and the entire industry to meet their obligation under this over regulated sector.” Evans said. “Small businesses understand their assets go home every night, and they hope they come back the following day, so savvy employers treat their employees fairly; if they don’t, they don’t have a business.
“We don’t need the bully boys from the union threatening small business with this heavy handed method of intimidation. Perhaps, if they learnt to work with the sector, rather than bully it, they may increase their membership, and thus their effectiveness. However, I am not confident if this is their standard practice. This is a pity.”
The TFIA is an Australian TCF industry body and non-profit association, first established in the 1940s.