The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union NSW Branch has dubbed Premier Mike Baird’s resignation as a ‘cop out’.
Baird’s premiership has been a disaster for blue-collar and manufacturing jobs in NSW, and the state’s long-term prosperity. He leaves the job as an unpopular failure.
“Mike Baird has seen manufacturing and blue collar jobs as disposable – and has acted that way,” said AMWU NSW Secretary Tim Ayres.
“There’s nothing beneath the shiny veneer. He’s all tip and no iceberg.”
As the union representing rail-workers and shipbuilders, the AMWU has strongly opposed the Baird Government decisions to send major infrastructure and manufacturing contracts out of the state, including:
- 500 rail carriages, to be built in China and Korea
- 38 double-decker busses, to be built in Queensland
- 6 new ferries, to be built in Tasmania.
These decisions have contributed to the collapse of industry across the state. Thousands of manufacturing workers in NSW have lost their jobs, and this pain has been most keenly felt in regional areas such as the Hunter and the Illawarra.
“Unemployment has grown in many regions around the state under Baird’s premiership,” said Mr Ayres. “He’s culpable for the 21% youth unemployment rate in the Hunter.”
“Mike Baird did not understand what these jobs mean for the regional communities that rely on them. He has left these communities behind.”
“The last time Mike Baird faced the voters was the Orange by-election, where regional communities rejected this government and their anti-jobs agenda.”
“Whoever his replacement is, they must take immediate action to keep good manufacturing jobs in NSW. Our workers and young people deserve nothing less.”
Media Contact: Joe McKenzie 0407931445