Maintenance workers at Allansford’s Saputo factory downed tools on Thursday morning as they upped their campaign for a new 16 per cent pay rise over four years.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state organiser Tony Hynds told The Standard negotiations with the company had been going for “well over 12 months”.
“We’ve modified our claims many times trying to get some sort of outcome everyone can live with,” he said.
Mr Hynds said the four-and-half-hour strike began on Thursday morning with plans to do it again on Friday.
The company said it was bargaining with 20 maintenance workers and was keen to reach an agreement.
Mr Hynds said the wage rise was the main sticking point.
“The company are at 13 to 14 per cent in wages (across four years) but we’re saying we want 16 per cent,” he said.
Mr Hynds said the union declined a 0.5 per cent increase offered on Wednesday.
He said negotiations had been drawn out because of staff changes in Saputo’s human resources department.
A Saputo spokesperson said it was working on negotiations with the union.
“We are committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to reach an agreement for Saputo Dairy Australia’s valued maintenance workers at our Allansford manufacturing site,” the spokesperson said.
UPDATE: noon
A Saputo spokesperson told The Standard it was bargaining with 20 maintenance employees at the Allansford factory to reach an agreement.
UPDATE: 11.30am:
A Saputo spokesperson told The Standard it was working on negotiations with the union as staff striked at its Allansford factory.
“We are committed to continuing negotiations in good faith to reach an agreement for Saputo Dairy Australia’s valued maintenance workers at our Allansford manufacturing site,” the spokesman said.
“We have contingency plans in place and do not expect the industrial action to impact our operations.”
EARLIER:
Staff at Allansford’s Saputo factory put the tools down on Thursday morning, July 6, frustrated with ongoing negotiations surrounding their wages.
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union state organiser Tony Hynds told The Standard negotiations with the company’s human resources had been ongoing for “well over 12 months”.
“It went on and on,” he said.
Mr Hynds said one of the main sticking points was wage increases for staff.
“The company are at 13 to 14 per cent in wages but we’re saying we want 16 per cent,” he said.
Mr Hynds said when staff changes were made in Saputo’s human resources department in May last year, he said the negotiations had to “basically start again” with the replacement.
He said one of the issues being discussed was about employing more apprentices.
Mr Hynds said staff were also asking for the leave process for its male workforce, the majority of them being shift workers, to be streamlined and for wording in their agreements to be changed.
“We had an agreement but when we started negotiations we had to do it again,” Mr Hynds said.
“We had some agreed terms then it was delayed.”
Mr Hynds also alleged the maintenance staff across Saputo were the lowest paid across the company.
The strike will continue on Friday, July 7.
Saputo has been contacted for comment.
