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Two Unite Union lay members from inside Arriva Bus recently accompanied Dimensions’ technical QA and compliance director, Derek Boyden, to two of the company’s factory partners in China.
This visit was organised because Dimensions offers complete transparency of its supply chain and encourages its clients to partner with them on any audits they wish to undertake at supplier sites.
Arriva Bus has been a client of Dimensions since 2011 and the purpose of the site visits was to able Jim Moran and Chris Smith to develop a clear understanding of both Dimensions’ and the factories’ adherence to corporate social responsibility policies. This was evaluated by the Unite Union lay members, by way of factory tours and interviews with workers and senior management from the factories.
As a fully registered member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) since 2005, Dimensions is committed to supporting suppliers as it implements the ETI base code of labour practice and create a fair and safe working environment for all employees. Similarly, as Britain’s biggest trade union, Unite is committed to serving the best interests of its 1.42 million members, by protecting workers’ rights and improving employees’ quality of life, by liaising with employers and the government.
The first factory which was visited, is located approximately a three hour drive North of Shanghai and currently manufactures knitted fleeces for other clients of Dimensions. The second factory is located in the Zhejiang Province of China and is a manufacturing facility which is currently used to produce Arriva Bus uniform garments.
Derek Boyden of Dimensions, affirmed that it was a valuable trip for all involved. While Dimensions was proud to show the representatives from Unite that the organisation provides fully compliable manufacturing quality assurances, the factory partners also welcome the opportunity to present their facilities to both Dimensions and its clients.
Jim Moran, of Unite Union and Arriva Bus, said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Derek for the manner in which we were received, and the factories likewise. From what we observed, we will have no hesitation in recommending either of the factories we attended, as they seem to make every effort to ensure that staff welfare and associated facilities are of the highest standard achievable. Indeed (in the case of the second factory), it is disappointing that the audit reports don’t go far enough, regarding some of the excellent facilities that are available to staff working there.”
In 2016 alone, Dimensions has conducted 48 audits of its supply partners, but as well as its own audit programmes, Dimensions’ suppliers are independently audited by Intertek.
