Agreement reached at ICO Polymers

Workers in Queensland have demonstrated their strength through collective action.  After two 24-hour stoppages, members at ICO Polymers have been able to improve their wage offer and secure six-months back pay.

Members are extremely happy with the outcome and say it has been great to feel the empowerment of collective action.

 The previous agreement expired in 2008. After that, the company made all members redundant and put them on separate contracts. In some  cases workers were on less than the 2005 agreement.

There has been no wage increase in five years, however; the Victorian NUW site has received a 20% increase over the last five years. This really showed workers in Queensland the real difference between the conditions at a good union site and a non-union site.

So workers got a log of claims together and started bargaining with the company in October last year. Over the last six months the company has attempted to take away conditions and offer minimal increases.

Now ICO Polymers is a strong 100% Union site. It has lead to a fair wage outcome for workers in Queensland, and a collective agreement so that all workers have unity and strength for the future.