Press Release
Victory for Sakata workers as dispute ends
Wednesday December 08, 2004
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Sakata workers celebrating victory
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Workers at Sakata Rice Crackers in Laverton North will return to work tomorrow (Thursday December 9, 2004) after voting to accept their first Enterprise Bargaining Agreement at a mass meeting this afternoon (December 8, 2004).
Around 130 workers from the site have been on strike for the past 10 days, following the company's long-standing refusal to negotiate an EBA.
However, day-long negotiations between the National Union of Workers and Sakata management on Tuesday finally broke the deadlock, with the union recommending the proposed EBA to workers.
NUW State Secretary Martin Pakula said it was a great day for Sakata workers.
"Our members really have shown that you can only push people so far before they react," Pakula said. "They have been waiting three years for this EBA, and once they had made up their mind to stand up and fight, there was no turning back.
"The past 10 days have been extremely difficult for everyone on the picket line, but there was never any suggestion that these workers would back down.
"They have a right to an EBA, they have a right to feel safe at work, and they have a right to be represented by their union at the worksite, and today's agreement gives them all of those things.
"I said all along that this dispute was about justice - justice for this workforce consisting largely of migrant women - and I think we have achieved that today.”
Pakula said while the dispute had been a difficult one he hoped Sakata, the NUW and its members could have a much more fruitful working relationship in future.
"We have shown in the past 48 hours just what can be achieved when employers work with the union movement.
"We have achieved a fantastic result for everyone involved and hopefully, we can continue to work together for the good of the workers in the future."
Pakula though, did reiterate his dismay at the Howard Government's industrial system which left the Sakata workers with no other option than to walk off the job 10 days ago.
"It is ludicrous that we have an industrial relations system which forces workers to take industrial action if companies refuse steadfastly to negotiate agreements," Pakula said.
"The Howard Government has established a system which means that neither the Industrial Relations Commission nor the Federal Court has the power to compel companies to enter into 'good faith' negotiations.
"Instead we are forced into situations like Sakata where workers are forced off the job - often long-term - and companies lose millions of dollars in the process.
"These workers were not asking for anything over the top, or unusual, but had to take extreme action to be heard.
"Frankly it is an absurd situation and I fear it is a sign of things to come, if the Howard Government has its way."
Key points of the new two-year EBA:
Around 130 workers from the site have been on strike for the past 10 days, following the company's long-standing refusal to negotiate an EBA.
However, day-long negotiations between the National Union of Workers and Sakata management on Tuesday finally broke the deadlock, with the union recommending the proposed EBA to workers.
NUW State Secretary Martin Pakula said it was a great day for Sakata workers.
"Our members really have shown that you can only push people so far before they react," Pakula said. "They have been waiting three years for this EBA, and once they had made up their mind to stand up and fight, there was no turning back.
"The past 10 days have been extremely difficult for everyone on the picket line, but there was never any suggestion that these workers would back down.
"They have a right to an EBA, they have a right to feel safe at work, and they have a right to be represented by their union at the worksite, and today's agreement gives them all of those things.
"I said all along that this dispute was about justice - justice for this workforce consisting largely of migrant women - and I think we have achieved that today.”
Pakula said while the dispute had been a difficult one he hoped Sakata, the NUW and its members could have a much more fruitful working relationship in future.
"We have shown in the past 48 hours just what can be achieved when employers work with the union movement.
"We have achieved a fantastic result for everyone involved and hopefully, we can continue to work together for the good of the workers in the future."
Pakula though, did reiterate his dismay at the Howard Government's industrial system which left the Sakata workers with no other option than to walk off the job 10 days ago.
"It is ludicrous that we have an industrial relations system which forces workers to take industrial action if companies refuse steadfastly to negotiate agreements," Pakula said.
"The Howard Government has established a system which means that neither the Industrial Relations Commission nor the Federal Court has the power to compel companies to enter into 'good faith' negotiations.
"Instead we are forced into situations like Sakata where workers are forced off the job - often long-term - and companies lose millions of dollars in the process.
"These workers were not asking for anything over the top, or unusual, but had to take extreme action to be heard.
"Frankly it is an absurd situation and I fear it is a sign of things to come, if the Howard Government has its way."
Key points of the new two-year EBA:
- 8 per cent pay rise over 2 years
- Casual employees to be offered permanency after 12 months
- Site rates for labour hire casuals
For further information please contact:
Di Lloyd
Communications Officer
National Union of Workers
(03) 9287 1777
Last modified 2008-10-17 12:55 PM
