Vitasoy workers on strike in Wodonga
Workers at Vitasoy, in Victoria's north, are on strike today, Friday 30 September
50 workers at Australia’s only Vitasoy plant in Wodonga, Victoria will walk off the job at 12.01 am today, Friday 30 September, for 24 hours.
After 11 long meetings, hearings at Fair Work Australia and extensive discussion with Vitasoy’s joint venture partners, Lion and Vitasoy Australia, negotiations have now reached a standstill, as management have now refused to continue negotiating while members take lawful industrial action.
The final offer put to workers from Vitasoy Australia on 24 August was an inferior offer and almost unanimously rejected because it lacked respect and reduced members’ current conditions.
When the company agreed to meet with the bargaining team again on 16 September, there was no change to the company’s position. Neil Smith says, “The NUW put forward an alternative final offer that we believe is fair given the current profitability and improved efficiency of Vitasoy Australia.”
On Thursday 22 September, an overwhelming majority voted to potentially take action.
On Friday 23 September, delegates again met with the company to get a response on the offer. Vitasoy Australia rejected most of the NUW’s core proposals, the majority of which sought to simply maintain current conditions.
The core claims include the maintenance of a fair disputes procedure, the direct employment of casuals after 6 months, ensuring that the current practice of all casuals receiving site rates and conditions not be removed by the company, and a fairer wage outcome.
Spirits are high on the picket line this morning, with reports coming from open car doors across ABC Radio News, 3CR, and local media. Click here for the report in this morning's Border Mail.
Member Lauren Pryor is at the picket line this morning, "We've got a good turn out and there's a great atmosphere. We're hoping for the right outcome - for the company to start taking us seriously. Up until now it feels like the company's just been wasting time."
