Solidarity work continues at Vitasoy in Hong Kong and Australia
Vitasoy members in regional Victoria continue to support their fellow workers internationally by including their brothers and sisters in Hong Kong in their current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, and Hong Kong delegates issue their letter of demands.
"VITASOY REFUSE TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNION FOR WAGE INCREASE More than 30 Union members went to Vitasoy to hand over their claims. The company refused to meet with the union. Strike action is planned if there is no response from the company..."
The NUW and IUF back Hong Kong Vitasoy unionists
The NUW is an affiliate of the International Union of Food Workers' Associations (IUF). The IUF is an international federation of trade unions representing workers employed in agriculture and plantations; the preparation and manufacture of food and beverages; hotels, restaurants and catering services; and all stages of tobacco processing. The IUF is composed of 377 affiliated organizations in 119 countries representing a combined membership of around 2,6 million. They are supporting the Vitasoy workers in Hong Kong to gain union rights and improved living standards. They are also supporting the NUW and Victorian Vitasoy members in backing their brothers and sisters in Hong Kong. Click here for a full report from the IUF.
Vitasoy delegates and members in Victoria get active internationally
On Wednesday 8 June in Wodonga, at a Victorian regional delegates conference, Vitasoy delegate, John Sheehan, told a roomful of delegates – from companies such as Nestle, Murray Goulburn and Uncle Tobys – about their current Enterprise Bargaining campaign to include their fellow Hong Kong workers. A message of support was sent to Hong Kong in April from all Lion Nathan National Foods delegates, with John Sheehan and Vitasoy co-delegate BJ Johnston at the lead. You can read more about this at the Lion Nathan National Foods campaign page here.
PRIME news interviewed Victorian Secretary, Tim Kennedy, about the international solidarity at the conference on Wednesday. There was also media interest in Hong Kong when delegates submitted a letter to Hong Kong management from the union, which is seeking a response by 11 June. If management fails to engage in meaningful negotiations then protest action and a press conference will be held on 14 June.
You can read the letter of demands that the Hong Kong workers put to management here.
All workers should have the right to form a union, to bargain collectively and show solidarity to each other. You can download the Log of Claims that Victorian Vitasoy members have lodged here.
