Warehouse workers at Truganina are celebrating after winning a battle for pay rises and job security for casuals.
As many as 650 Polar Fresh workers walked off the job last Wednesday after wage claim negotiations broke down.
Workers were calling for a $3 an hour pay rise and for casual employees to be offered secure employment.
The three-day strike came to an end last Friday after workers voted in favour of an agreement struck by the National Union of Workers, Polar Fresh and staff and union delegates.
The workers won an average wage increase of 4.75 per cent per year, which means they will be making $31 an hour by 2019. The current industry standard is $30 an hour.
An additional 120 new secure jobs were also part of the deal, which ensures 50 permanent full-time and 70 labour hire agency workers are transferred to direct employment.
Working conditions, such as breaks, rostered days off, and double-time for overtime after two hours, are also part of the new deal.
National Union of Workers spokeswoman Emma Kerin described the result as a “fantastic win for the workers in the western suburbs”.
“There are a lot of casual workers directly employed through a labour hire agency who don’t get guaranteed shifts and don’t earn enough to survive,” Ms Kerin said.
Polar Fresh employee and Werribee resident Russell Turban said the pay rise is deserved.
“We work hard, some of us six days a week just to make ends meet, we deserve a pay rise,” he said.
The Truganina warehouse stocks chilled perishables for Coles stores across the state.
