Cade Lucas
Wyndham dairy workers have joined colleagues from across the state in striking for better pay and conditions.
72 employees at Saputo’s distribution centre in Laverton North stopped work yesterday morning, part of a 48 hour strike involving up to 1400 Victorian dairy workers.
Victorian employees of Fonterra, Lactalis and Peters are also part of the strike action which was taken after union demands for a 15 per cent wage increase over three years, was rebuffed.
The strike is set to continue until 6am on Friday, while an earlier strike by Saputo truck drivers finished yesterday.
Saputo Laverton North employee and United Workers Union delegate, Marcus Hildebrand, said morale on the picket line remained high.
“What is really pleasing is that we have zoom meetings three times a day and we’re connecting with groups that are doing the same action around Victoria.”
Despite criticism from the farming and dairy industry lobbies, Mr Hildebrand said their demands were not unreasonable.
“We’re just after a five per cent pay rise over three years, we’re calling it a fair cost of living wage increase,” he said.
“For the last 11 years we’ve taken more like three per cent per annum.”
Mr Hildebrand said unions had met with Saputo seven times during negotiations, but were left with no choice but to take industrial action.
“We’ve come quite a long way in their direction and they haven’t come far enough in ours.”
The strike has already had an effect on milk supplies with some Victorian supermarkets limiting customers to two units each and Premier Jacinta Allan warning Victorians not to panic buy.
Victorian Farmers Federation President, Emma Germano called for an end to the strike and said the dairy industry was particularly vulnerable to industrial action.
“Broadly speaking, we need to talk about how standover tactics have a different impact of fresh produce,” she said.
“The issue is more acute because the loss and spoilage has much wider economic and environmental outcomes.”
In a statement, Dairy Farmers Victoria said the strike would hurt farmers and families.
“Our cows will continue to produce milk and our consumer family will continue to need milk and we will be ready to supply that milk.”
Marcus Hildebrand said that farmers supported their strike action and that supporting them would be part of the union’s four point agenda when negotiations with Saputo resume.
“One, cost of living wage increase, two, regional communities, three, illegal profiteering in the industry and four, strong support for our farmers.” Mr Hildebrand said.
“Without them we don’t have a business.”
