After almost six weeks locked out without pay, 140 cold storage workers at Swift Australia in Brooklyn have reached agreement with their employer.

NUW Victorian Secretary Tim Kennedy said Swift, had backed down from its original unfair and unjust offer.   :)

“We’re happy to get a new deal after the company set out to crush their employees,” Mr Kennedy said.

“Swift locked out workers without pay for six weeks over Christmas and their failure to bargain in good faith with the union showed a blatant disrespect for their workers.   >:(

“Facing the might of the world’s largest meat supplier wasn’t easy but our members remained strong, united and determined to get a fair deal – and they got it,” he said.

“With great support from the broader union movement, our members were able to withstand everything thrown at them by the multi-national giant, and win.”  :) :) :)

Mr Kennedy said the original unfair offer threatened to strip away pay and conditions.

The new agreed offer will:
•    protect workers’ penalty and overtime rates,
•    ensure no worker is forced to work extended hours in the cold storage area, and
•    preserve the family friendly nature of the workplace.

Mr Kennedy said Swift were fortunate to have such a dedicated workforce.  

“Cold storage workers at Swift endure tough conditions and handle lamb that ends up on tables around the world,” Mr Kennedy said.

“They are mainly migrant workers that have fought hard to come to this country to make a better life for themselves and their families.

“They deserved much better than the treatment dished out by Swift over the last six weeks.”

Yeah, they had a real win, no pay for 6 weeks.  So they lost just under 9% of their annual wages, for an extra 1%.

They stood op for what was right.  Then again I suppose it didn't do the company much good either.  No production for 6 weeks.  Far better to sit down and work out a fair deal.   :)

wrote on Jan 12^th, 2011 at 8:23pm:

They stood op for what was right.  Then again I suppose it didn't do the company much good either.  No production for 6 weeks.  Far better to sit down and work out a fair deal.   :)

That fair deal cost them 8% of their wages.

How many of those workers can afford that imcrook?  Its going to take 8 years to make that up, because after all it was 1% they were fighting over.