“The manufacturing is all going to China, there’s no point in supporting Bonds,” said Maryanne Metcalf from the Wollongong Bonds factory.

About 1200 jobs would be lost from the factory floor: 233 in western Sydney, 83 in the NSW Hunter Valley, 207 in Wollongong, 56 at West End in Queensland, and in Victoria, 255 from Holeproof at Nunawading and 298 from the Hosiery at Coolaroo.

SOME cried, others were outraged, but nearly all were shocked that the great Chesty Bond would now get all his clothes made in China.

The decision by Pacific Brands to shut seven factories in NSW, Queensland and Victoria left 1850 workers wondering how they will find work in a downturn.

“The manufacturing is all going to China, there’s no point in supporting Bonds,” said Maryanne Metcalf from the Wollongong Bonds factory.

“Bonds don’t deserve their dinky-di Aussie reputation, not after this. We have lost our jobs.

“I have kids and a mortgage, the lot, it affects us all.”

Textile union NSW secretary Barry Tubner said workers were disgusted at the way the company had made the announcement to the stock exchange before talking to their employees.

About 1200 jobs would be lost from the factory floor: 233 in western Sydney, 83 in the NSW Hunter Valley, 207 in Wollongong, 56 at West End in Queensland, and in Victoria, 255 from Holeproof at Nunawading and 298 from the Hosiery at Coolaroo.

There will also be 650 redundancies among non-manufacturing employees spread across the business.

Full report — Page 4

Business — Page 17

John Durie — Page 26

Credit: John Stapleton