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“Unite cannot emphasise enough the vital role our manufacturing sector must play, driving us through difficult economic times and ensuring that we come out the other end stronger and fitter. We know that manufacturing cannot do it alone and unsupported. In fact it might have been better if the Government had stepped in years ago to save manufacturing jobs in the way they have stepped in to shore up finance companies and the banks.”

Welcoming the Government’s recent strategy for manufacturing, Tony Burke went on to say “There is a desperate need for improved skills and training and that is why we have been pushing the Government to introduce sector training levies where industry sectors fail to deliver, such as the printing industry.”

He went on to criticise the Government for not ensuring that training leave is a statutory right and that employees should receive full pay while undertaking training leave. He welcomed Government’s recent support for public procurement and urged the Government to do more to provide assistance to manufacturing industry.