Blundstone Boots

[ozwinner]

Just when their down, someone really sticks the boots in.

It wont be a Blunnie though..

Al

[Christopha]

That was blundt!

[Bluegum]

I've just been given a pair of boots called fire ants which are made in China and they IMHO would have to be the worst things i have worn. Stitching coming out of the uppers on mine and laces tearing eyelets out in other blokes boots. Yet my faithfull Blunnies seem to take all the punishment that I give them. I found that Bata boots not to be that bad once you get them broken in. Just a shame that another local company has to head O/S to cut costs.

[Shedhand]

I'm a born and bred Tassie. From the bush. Blunnies have been around a loooong time. I guess by keeping the head office and admin in Tassie they can still claim to be Tasmanian. But don't be fooled into thinking the price of the boots will come down. What this exercise about is margin envy. This is a family owned company (the original Cuthbertson clan) and they've cast their eyes over the profit results of the competitors (public companies with thousands of shareholders to cater to) already using slave labour and want to increase the margins. Thats it. Buy a pair of Nike sneakers and you'll pay upwards of 350 bucks. Made in Mexico, China, Indonesia and Brazil. All slave wage economies. If they were true democracies labour would be allowed to organise and the poor bastrads could agitate for fair wages. Surely you must agree with the principle of a "fair days wages for a fair days work". They haven't heard the phrase in India or China for that matter.

And no good bagging the unions. The bloody company set everything up in strict secrecy and then dumped it on the employees out of the blue. Thats no way to treat loyal employees. And its not the Construction Union its the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union who have been battling for years to get decent wages for workers in the industry.
And 30,000 bucks a year less tax is not a living wage. Its more like 55,000 for a family with 3 kids at school.
This is John Howard's and Kevin Andrews' brave you new world and its happened because my party, Labor and the union movement lost their bottle and therefore the membership. I don't like the boots anyway so I stopped wearing them after they were no longer issued to me at work many years ago.

Sorry, can't help meself. I'm goin' to the shed to work off some steam.

[Tonyz]

Rossi boots are all made in South Aus. flamin great boots $90.and have 'lived'in them 2.5 years not a sausage wrong with em will see out another 18 months at least.

Tony

[Cliff Rogers]

I used to always buy Rossi 'cos my Dad did too but then when I moved up into the hills to a very wet climate they just sheyet themselves in no time at all....
I was having a grizzle about them to my Dad on the phone & he said that he switched to Blunnies 'cos they lasted longer.
I have 2 pairs of Blunnies now, brown ones for paddock bashing & shed work 'cos we have red dirt & black ones for office work fixing computers. (leaves good marks when you kick them. )
Don't know what I'll do now..... guess I had better grab a couple of spare pair of the Oz made ones in case the quality goes out the window.

[coastie]

I seem to remember being taught in an Economics class about "monopolistic capitalism is worse than communism".
These b......s want the boots produced at Chinese prices but still charge Australian made prices for them. Just so they can grow richer at the Aussie workers expense.
I always thought that a brand of clothing which has its head office in Vic.was Aussie made because of the advertising "We test our garments etc,etc",but on going into one of their stores and looking at the merchandise walked out in disgust.Everything ,and I mean everything ,was 'Made in China'.
Stick it up your fundamental fella!

[womble]

Only ever youse to wear blunnies once, specially being a gardner on the southern atherton tablelands with lots of rain (lots), mud etc. They were far better than any other brand I used in terms of comfort and traction in mud...but now...

Got a pair of Redbacks for work in the prison but wear them elsewhere too, they seem pretty good and are more comfortable than blunnies (to me anyway), plus they are 100% aussie made and owned apparently

http://www.redback.net.au/company.html

All our boots are made in Australia by workers who are employed under Government regulated awards. All Redback workers have a superannuation plan for retirement, Workplace safety insurance and comprehensive Government Medical care - employees are free to join a union if they so wish. The Redback factory complies with all Government Occupational Health and Safety Requirements and Equal Opportunity Requirements.

[fred.n]

Well done to you workers there!

Pitty things have gone this way and management has decided
to go off-shore, to chase the dollars

I truly hope you guys find work and things pan out.

I worked in the textile industry for a few years, and once those tarrifs
come off, things get really tight
best of luck

Fred

[Cliff Rogers]

..Got a pair of Redbacks for work ... they seem pretty good and are more comfortable than blunnies (to me anyway), plus they are 100% aussie made and owned apparently .....

Thanks for the womble, I'll have a look for a pair.

[bennylaird]

They are just as good as Blunnies

[boban]

They are just as good as Blunnies

When I needed to buy a new pair after the Blunnies sole went, my BIL made sure I tried a pair of Redback on. I did and I bought them. Fantastic boots.

My wife also bought a pair.

It appears to me that there are still plenty of Aussie made options

[Cliff Rogers]

Cool, that's 3 votes for the Redbacks, I'll have to look for a pair now.

[Lignum]

Oliver are the el supremo saftey boot in my opinion. And they also make excelent steel cap runners and water proof slip ons. Their just like wearing a spongy pair of runners

http://www.oliver.com.au/default_products.htm

[Cliff Rogers]

I tried a pair of the Olivers & while they were good to stand around at the lathe in, the soles didn't like the hot climate & just sheyet themselves.... de-vulcanised & crumbled like dry dog poop.