Moving on

4 April 2002




It's always sad when an organisation loses good people. Moving on, not just to another company but another line of business, is so much a part of the employment market these days that more than a handful of years' service with any one company is comparatively rare.

That's one of the oddities of this industry - it is exceptional for having so many people that stay. On the occasions I've mentioned this in conversation, I have been met with agreement but few can give a concrete reason for why this is the case - other than something like: "The laundry and cleaning industry gets into your blood." Perhaps it does.

  Richard Zerny is one "lifer" whose retirement at the end of the month has just been announced. He has been in the industry for some 40 years, the last 24 with Johnson Group. Mr Zerny joined the company's board in 1983, becoming chief executive UK in '89 and group chief executive in '97.

In a statement the company said: "He has done an excellent job in transforming the group into the leading UK operator in both workwear rental and drycleaning and will leave the group in a strong position to capitalise on these market positions… We thank him for his immense contribution and wish him well in his forthcoming retirement." We at LCN send our good wishes to Richard and his family too.

  It is especially sad when an organisation finds itself in a situation that can only be resolved through a course of action that includes redundancies. As our news item on page five relates, this is what has happened at the Textile Services Association. Speaking to its chief executive Murray Simpson, it was clear that the last thing he and the others at the TSA wanted was for anybody to be made redundant.

It's ironic that at a time when the industry particularly needs an organisation like the TSA to speak to government on its behalf (think Climate Change Levy), the association itself is suffering a trading deficit. This was the reason for the recent changes. Fortunately, the TSA's has sound financial backing and its long-term future is not in doubt. But any laundry and drycleaning companies musing on the value of becoming a member of the TSA should not hesitate - join as soon as possible.

If you need to know the specific benefits membership will bring to your company, speak to Murray.




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