NUW calls for Inghams factory rebuild
Today's mass union meeting at Baxter saw hundreds of Inghams NUW members come to support each other after their Somerville chicken processing plant burnt down this week.
Union officials were on-hand to deliver an encouraging message to Inghams members.
"Today has to be the start of a campaign to rebuild your factory. It must be rebuilt," NUW Victorian branch Secretary Antony Thow reinforced.
After meeting with Inghams management early this morning, the Union were also able to annonce that employees would receive five weeks of pay, full leave entitlements and the opportunity for employment at other chicken processing plants with additional payment of travel for employees elected to work at those sites.
With Inghams yet to make a decision on whether the plant will rebuild, members are hopeful their employer delivers on its promises. NUW Inghams Delegate Thelma Rutene commented "I hope they come through with what they promised. There are lots of couples with families whom this will impact upon."
Alongside Union officials, Centrelink and counselling support services were also on hand to talk to members so they could air grievances or concerns.
Although redundancies cannot be ruled out, Mr Thow was positive about the chance of the company rebuilding the site.
"It can be a world-class environmentally-friendly facility. It could be a great example for the Australian food processing sector and we're calling on Inghams to commit to rebuilding at Somerville as soon as possible."
Members at the meeting. TV crews in the distance.
Click below for news coverage of this story in the daily papers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/15/2793120.htm
