Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 14 July 2010
Letters pour in this week over James Cryer’s recent article, while Bob McMillan continues to receive praise for his charity work.
Re: Would the real printing industry please stand up? James Cryer’s commentary
How refreshing to see someone finally picking up the torch and having a sprint.
Unfortunately, James, having worked in the industry for 35 years and been the victim of unscrupulous so-called bastions of our industry, values and morals seem to end at the closing of the BMW convertible door in the car park.
I applaud you James for taking a swipe for the unsung heroes true Anzac spirit.
Kevin Brettell
I must admit, I am bewildered by the discounted war that is spread in the industry. We try to keep prices as low as possible but despite that we found some ridiculous quotes provided that often do not equate to real cost of sales.
This kind of cowboy-ish behaviour is destroying a whole industry. I often get clients, often long-term, telling me they sought quotes from other places for comparisons sake and felt we were overpriced. While I am in complete favour of open market economy I found those discounting below cost to win work will only destroy themselves and others in the process, not to mention of course those engaged in unacceptable behaviour to reduce their on-costs in the way they abuse their workforce.
Hassan Moussa
It's so easy to talk and make generalisations of how companies should behave
to their staff in the sad event of a closure. Not all staff are loyal to their owners, loyalty works both ways.
I have worked in a company where the workers were paid way above average, given the very best working conditions possible; even a subsidised child minding facility was made in the factory, along with fantastic hours, a games room, a bonus scheme up to 40 per cent at peak periods of the year, nearly six weeks holiday a year, a Christmas bonus of two weeks’ wages and a subsidised staff canteen. When the company moved to new premises, again the owner gave a weeks’ wage for the inconvenience.
In the early days we were paid in cash and when the wages went electronically again we had a weeks’ wage given for our inconvenience. Yet, the most disappointing part about this was that a good percentage of the staff were not happy and would continually moan.
Certain printers would run their own jobs on the presses, even the five-colour Speedmaster was used. When new working practices where brought in again certain workers would dig their heels in and not play ball. As we all know, you need all workers giving 100 per cent all the time to make a success of any business.
The sad part about all this is certain management knew about the stealing and who the culprits where but chose to look away, in some cases they where made supervisors.
This company was not Australian but was a UK company in the late 80s. The good part of the story was the original owner sold out in the nineties, after that it had various owners until it collapsed in 2002 and was sold to an American company. It's now a shadow of its former self, so who was to blame for this company's fall? In this case everybody apart from the original owner.
Arthur
Finally, someone who is interested in being a decent human being not just the latest greatest entrepreneur.
Jude Woods
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Re: Letters, feedback, get it off your chest: 7 July 2010
Graeme/Craig,
I apologise for not mentioning Craig's role in this as there has been not greater advocate of the digital training. If I could off an excuse it is that I was writing more about the process of getting the qualifications recognised than the working of it.
I will be the first to say that without Craig we would not have been as successful as he and I have worked closely to bring about the outworking of the qualifications.
Graham, I also acknowledge your role because without the tools for assessment we would have had a much more difficult time.
There were so many people involved and I could never have mentioned all of them, Linda From IBSA, Genevieve from IBSA, Eddie Hardman, IBSA, my own managers John Cox and Bob archer who supported me with a great latitude in the scope of my role in order to see this accomplished.
So again I apologise for not mentioning Craig but he was never forgotten.
John Kirk
Re: Canada cans paper edition of print mag
So, the Canadian Printer wants to generate an income from an industry that it no longer supports … how interesting.
This is about as smart a move as anyone in the print industry sending out electronic Christmas Cards.
We need to protect what we do.
Mark Osborne
Re: Charity work earns Bob McMillan Order of Australia medal
Congratulations to Bob McMillan, I too worked for the McMillan Group for a number of years and worked closely with Bob on many occasions. A tough businessman he was, but a fairer man you could not find. Bob has worked tirelessly for many years to help others and to raise money for many organisations.
I have personally been with Bob when he has visited staff in hospital and know of occasions when he has helped others through tough times. Many of the McMillan staff remained loyal due to his efforts.
An award well deserved by a great mentor, human being and businessman.
Geoff Curtis