Workforce Guardian general manager of HR and workplace relations Charles Watson will soon be joining The Real Media Collective (TRMC) in its support against the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting many industries.
Watson will take on the role of general manager of IR, policy and governance at TRMC, after almost three years with Workforce Guardian.
TRMC CEO Kellie Northwood said Watson returns to support the industry at a critical time for its members and broader industry throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is a devastating time for our members and broader industry. The appointment of Charles, is a very important one,” she said.
“Our industry needs industry expertise, not outsourced solutions, call centres or online HR, we need an expert and Charles is the leading industrial relations expert for our industry. I am pleased to have him on board and provide support our members have been asking for over these past weeks.”
Watson has worked across the print industry for over 13 years as he headed up the former Printing Industry Association of Australia’s industrial relations team, providing services to the majority of print organisations across the country.
Since leaving the PIAA, now PVCA, Watson has continued his career with Workforce Guardian, staying close to the industry as a contributor to IR matters across the print industry.
“Charles, is well-known to our members and that was a key consideration of the board when we reviewed this immediate appointment,” TRMC chairman Matt Aitken said.
“It is an important one that our members need at this time and we needed to find someone who could get to work from day one. I welcome Charles to the team, but more importantly, I welcome him back to the industry our members need it in this difficult time.”
Recently, Northwood issued a personal note to all members of TRMC, highlighting the emotional toll the COVID-19 crisis is having on all members and staff, and urging all to reach out and lean on each other.
“There is a growing list of what our members need and we are working through this step by step. IR, policy and governance is one of those steps,” Northwood said.
“Right now, we are all about helping our members survive this financially and emotionally. As I said to all my members last week, despite the enormous difficulty we are all enduring right now, there is also great humanity in the care we have for each other and we will get through this and together build a new future.”
Watson starts at TRMC on 15 April, with an open webinar in a two-way question and advisory approach discussing immediate, short- and long-term steps for member companies and industry.
“The industry, and its people, are dealing with a once in a lifetime global crisis for which there is little precedence. I thank Kellie and the board of the Real Media Collective for their confidence, and look forward to focusing on dealing the challenges being experienced by each company and the overall industry,” Watson told Sprinter.
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