Tasmanian politicians have thrown their weight behind striking workers at Saputo’s Burnie cheese factory, unanimously supporting a motion calling for pay parity with their mainland counterparts.
The motion, moved by the Greens, follows a continuing nine-week strike by around 20 maintenance staff at the factory, who are protesting a 23.5% pay gap compared to workers doing the same jobs in other states.
Workers, joined by representatives from the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), rallied outside Parliament House in Hobart on Wednesday to churn up support for their cause.
“They’ve gone without pay for this entire time, but they have courageously kept fighting for what is right,” Greens workplace relations spokesperson Helen Burnett said.
“We’re seeing these Tasmanian workers being replaced by international workers while they’re on strike.”
“This sends a clear message to Saputo. It’s time for them to finally start listening and to give workers what they deserve.”
Labor leader Dean Winter echoed the sentiment, saying the Tasmanian Parliament needed to send a clear message to the international dairy giant responsible for brands Cheer, Devondale, King Island Dairy and Liddells among others.
“You can’t have a situation where [companies] think they can come to Tasmania, benefit from our brand, our workforce, but not pay our workers the right wage and for these workers, they’re only asking to be paid the same amount as their colleagues on the mainland who do the exact same job,” he said.
“It took a long time but I’m pleased that despite them kicking and screaming, the Premier finally agreed to meet with these workers today.”
“It took them to drive down from Burnie to sit in the gallery of the Parliament for him to finally agree to meet with them.”
The government also voiced its support for the principle of pay parity, with Minister Eric Abetz saying: “It’s a pretty easy proposition that people that do the same amount of work in a similar situation, be they male, female or any other characteristic, should be paid the same,” he said.
CEPU State Secretary Michael Anderson said politicians “have to pick a side” between Tasmanians or foreign investors.
“It’s not every day that people in the north-west go on strike for nine weeks, but they made a very informed, serious decision with their community and their families,” he said.
“They’re going really well, so far as we can tell and the support that they’re building is really really keeping these guys going.”
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