R.M Williams go back to work at Adelaide factory

Bootmaker R.M. Williams has restarted work at its Adelaide factory with face masks joining production lines for the first time

Catherine Souter and Liam Hilditch working at the reopened RM Williams factory. Picture: Morgan Sette

Famed Australian bootmaker R.M. Williams has restarted work at its Adelaide factory, with face masks joining production lines for the first time.

R.M. Williams’ global chain of retail outlets, along with its factory in Adelaide’s northern suburb of Salisbury, were shuttered four weeks ago as the coronavirus pandemic­ gripped the world.

But after discussions with the South Australian government, the 92-year-old bootmaker has brought back a slimmed-down team of 120 to restart production of boots, apparel and masks.

R.M. Williams chief executive Raju Vuppalapati said the company was able to quickly restart operations at the plant, where 300 people usually work, in part due to support from the federal government. “JobKeeper has been very useful for us … we have continued to commit that all our team members­ are fully employed and that’s important for us,” he said.

“In the long term, I think JobKeeper has been very beneficial for us and to see through we take all our team members through and get through much stronger than we entered the COVID-19 crisis.”

More than 1500 of the non-surgical masks have been made so far, with workers able to churn out more than 500 a day.

Mr Vuppalapati said the business had been focused on working out how to restart. “We’re trying to work with the SA government, these are non-surgical masks, we want to give them away for free.

“The emphasis for us is to get back to work while being absolutely sure that the health and safety of our team members is critical.”

Mr Vuppalapati said he hoped there would be “some clarity” for the longer term in how businesses should operate during these times.

“Hopefully we will start hearing the government articulating this policy and we can look at what we need to do,” he said. The bootmaker has dealt with uncertainty before — in World War II, mail-order catalogues offered­ to “do our best” — but noted there could be shortages of material or supply.

The Salisbury workshop’s apparel­ line was the first to come back, with a slim crew returning to the factory on April 27.

The footwear line returned on Thursday, but production on new boots will be below pre-COVID-19 levels, with the initial focus on ­getting through a backlog of custom­ orders and 2000 boots for repair.

Social distancing measures are in place across the factory floor, with all workers required to sanitise their hands and take their temper­atures upon entry. Masks are also being provided.

More than 120 hand sanitiser dispensers are dispersed across the factory, while shift and break times have been staggered to minimise congregation in shared spaces.