Press Release
Sakata workers take industrial action
Monday November 29, 2004
|
|
The Sakata picket line
|
Workers at the Sakata Rice Cracker factory in Laverton North walked off the job this morning (November 29, 2004) over the company’s continued refusal to negotiate an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement at the site.
The National Union of Workers and its members have been attempting to establish an EBA at the site for more than 12 months, with no luck.
So at a meeting on Saturday (November 27, 2004) NUW members voted to take indefinite industrial action as of 4am this morning.
NUW State Secretary Martin Pakula said the decision to take industrial action was a clear indication of the Sakata workers’ commitment to achieving an EBA with the company.
“This is something our members at Sakata have been asking for for a long time, but the company refuses to even entertain the idea,” Mr Pakula said.
“This year Sakata has been lauding its achievements, celebrating its 10th anniversary in Australia, yet the NUW and our members see a very different story.
“Sakata Australia has an annual turnover of between $50million and $100million, yet refuses to secure its workers wages and conditions through an EBA, instead choosing to pay the absolute minimum specified in the Award. This is a 24-hour operation but this is not reflected in the rates of pay for those working night shift.
“What we are asking for is for Sakata to better reward its 170-strong workforce which has enabled the company to snare 40 per cent of the rice cracker market in this country.
“These workers have been loyal to the company over the past 10 years, but don’t seem to be receiving the same in return.”
But Pakula said the dispute was about much more than a simple pay rise.
He said the NUW and its members were also determined to give casual workers at the site greater job security and access to permanency as well as securing better conditions for all workers at the site.
“Our members want an EBA to not only improve their wages at the site but also safeguard such things as occupational health and safety.
“We are keen to work with the company to safeguard some of these conditions to ensure Sakata is a happy and healthy working environment for all of our members and believe an EBA will assist with this.
“In the past 12 months we have made numerous approaches to Sakata management to no avail, and frankly have run out of options.”
For further information please contact:
National Union of Workers
Mobile: 0401 548 340
Last modified 2005-03-10 04:26 PM
